Sarasota and Bradenton Florida Real Estate News

Do You Know About the Old Forest Lakes Neighborhood

2011-07-23T06:46:00.000-07:00

Old Forest Lakes is an intimate community where people know each other. Tucked between Webber Street and Bee Ridge Road and just north of Beneva Road, Old Forest Lakes is a unique enclave unknown to most people, but those who do know about it consider it a much-sought-after neighborhood.

Besides convenient access to all of Sarasota including a Publix supermarket within walking distance and only a 15 minute ride to South Gate mall and Siesta Public Beach are within a 15-minute drive.

With only 72 homes, Old Forest lakes has its share of the largest properties west of I-75, ranging from one-half acre to just over 2 acres. Most of the homes are not visible from the street. The neighborhood is quiet, picturesque with a lush canopy of stately oak trees festooned with Spanish moss.

Judie Berger, a Sarasota real estate professional reported that she “loves the Old Forest lakes neighborhood where most of the homes were built in the late 1950s and early 1960s. More recently, some people have bought older homes as teardowns and put up new homes while some other homes have been extensively remodeled.” Old Forest Lakes,” she says, “definitely has that appealing “Old Florida” feel.”

Architectural styles in the neighborhood range from single-story homes and 2-story cottages to Spanish Mediterranean villas. The area has attracted a number of younger families in addition to professionals and retirees as its location, stability and character continue to make Old Forest Lakes an attractive neighborhood.

According to Bob Henley, a local REMAX Sarasota Florida real estate agent, while at the peak of the Sarasota real estate boom, homes were selling above $800,000 in Old Forest Lakes, today prices are in the $250,000 to the low $400,000’s

Tight Mortgage Market An Advantage for All-Cash Buyers

2011-06-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

The sub-prime mortgage crisis that has impacted the Florida housing market has had a major effect on all sectors of the real estate market, including Sarasota luxury homes and condominiums.

"Mortgage providers that normally write "jumbo" loans (mortgages above the limits set by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae) are now having to keep those loans on their own books but they are reluctant to add to their current in-house mortgage portfolios," according to Connie Belmont, a well-regarded Sarasota waterfront homes specialist Realtor. To compensate themselves for accepting this extra risk, banks are charging higher interest rates on the types of "jumbo" loans normally written for luxury home and condominium sales. This reluctance is having a depressing effect on the sale of luxury homes and condos throughout the United States and particularly here in the Sarasota Bradenton area.

According to Brian Ward, a Sarasota luxury homes Accredited Buyers Representative, there is still a substantial number of luxury waterfront and golf course homes and condominiums in the $1 million and up price range for sale.

Sarasota luxury home and condominium owners who need or want to sell their elegant homes and condos, after having held off selling, hoping for a quick housing market recovery, have begun to understand the situation. As a result, they have reduced their asking prices to more realistic levels and become particularly interested in cash buyers.

Luxury home sellers are becoming willing now to accept a lower price offer from a buyer with no financing contingency. They also appreciate that an all-cash deal can close within 2-3 weeks, far more quickly than a deal requiring the normal appraisal and mortgage approval.

As a result, Sarasota luxury home buyers with cash on hand are in the enviable position of being able right now to purchase a Sarasota area luxury home or condominium at a really attractive price.

USA Today reported this week that all-cash buyers are beginning to scoop up those Sarasota and Bradenton Florida luxury homes at bargain prices.

Florida Home Sales Leap in March, 2011

2011-04-26T08:31:00.000-07:00

Home sales in Florida surged ahead in March, jumping by 36% over February, Across the state 28,220 housing units were sold in March compared to 20,680 in February and 24370 in March, 2010.

Sales of Florida homes and condominiums were even up by 16.8% over March of 2010 when the home buyer tax credit program was in effect. According to the Florida Association of Realtors (FAR) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) the Florida home sales statistics surpassed the national increase which was only 3.7% above February levels.

March was the fourth month in a row where home sales exceeded the same month of the previous year. The median sale price of a single family home in Florida was $126,300, still below the previous year's median due,in large part to the number of foreclosure and short sale transactions.

In the Sarasota real estate market, for example, single family home sales, at 580, were up 23% from the previous month, and 5% higher than March, 2010 when the tax credit spurred sales to 555. "Condo sales also climbed to 220 in March 2011, up 10% from February, and 11% higher than last year at this time," says Jan Dugan, a Siesta Key real estate agent.

With March being the start of the 2011 spring home buying season, Florida realtors including those in the Sarasota and Bradenton real estate market have reason for hoping that 2011 will be a much better year than they've seen in the past several years.

"What Realtors need more than anything else at this point," says Brian Ward, a Sarasota Florida real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty, is for lenders to loosen up their lending standards just a bit giving more families a chance to buy a home during 2011 at prices not seen in years."

Housing Start Reports are Inaccurate At Best

2011-02-17T15:33:00.000-08:00

More specifically, the data reported by major news organizations is not technically "inaccurate", it's just misleading.

A "Housing Start," says Andree Huffine, a popular Sarasota real estate broker, "is defined as a home (or housing unit) on which construction started during the month.+

If you recently saw the news reports on January, 2011 Housing Starts, you would think they went up by over 14% and were at the highest level in 4 years. But actually, annualized nationwide single-family home housing starts, the number most of us are interested in, actually fell by 1% in January to 413,000 units, the lowest level in almost 2 years.

Ths confusing situation is caused by the fact that, while the Census Bureau reports Housing Starts by "property type," newspaper headlines typically lump all three Census Bureau categories into a single value.

Here's how the categories actually were reported for January, 2011 by the Census Bureau:

Single-Family Homes were down 4,000 units, or -1%
2-4 Unit Homes saw a negligible change
5 or more Unit Apartment Building Starts were up by 46,000 units, or +80%

Combined together, thses dat apoints do, infact, represent the reported 14% increase. But, the "surge" in nationwide housing starts reported by most news organizations occurred only in one category, the 5-unit-and-up apartment building category. Single-family housing starts were actually down by 1%, not up at all.

Like many things in the real estate business here in Georgia or elsewere, you need to work with a professional. "Introduce yourself to a reputable mortgage broker and a licensed Realtor and trust the information they provide. Don't just read the headlines and react," says Brian Ward, a prominent Sarasota FL real estate agent and Accredited Buyer Representative.

Some Bits of Information We Bet You DIDN'T Know

2010-10-21T10:23:00.000-07:00

☺ "Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand and "lollipop" with your right. (Bet you tried this out mentally, didn't you?)

☺ Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable. (I'll bet you're going to check this out.)

☺ No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.
☺ Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

☺ The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet. (Now, you KNOW you're going to try this out for accuracy, right?)
☺ The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes). (Yep, I knew you were going to "do" this one.)

☺ There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: "abstemious" and "facetious." (Yes, admit it, you are going to say ...... a e i o u)

☺ TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard. (All you typists are going to test this out)
☺ All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.

☺ A snail can sleep for three years. (I know some people that could do this too.)

☺ Almonds are a member of the peach family.

☺ An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

☺ February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.

☺ In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.

☺ Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.

☺ On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag.

☺ Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite!

Tortoise Estates on Siesta Key

2010-09-06T12:09:00.000-07:00

When people think of Siesta Key, they think of the famous white sand beach, and the eclectic and always busy village. But on the more southern end of the key, beyond the Stickney Point Causeway, Siesta Key becomes a much more lush and tropical area where single family homes face Sarasota Bay or the Gulf of Mexico or the long stretch of Heron Lagoon. Some of the homes are truly palatial while others are more modest. Home designs in the Tortoise Estate community have the flavor of Key West, Grand Cayman Island and, of course, classic Old-Florida style beach bungalows

"For those who wish to avoid the more touristy areas, south Siesta Key will be a pleasant surprise," says Rich Stover, a prominent Sarasota real estate agent. Along with all the other differences from the more northern sections of Siesta Key, local Turtle Beach is a far different place from the renowned Siesta Beach. It is smaller with more ordinary sand, and a steeper sloping beach with more shells and pebbles, but the sunset views over the Gulf of Mexico are every bit as dramatic, perhaps even more enjoyable, in this quieter setting.

If you would like to know more about Tortoise Estates, Bob Henley, a well-known Sarasota Florida real estate agent who specializes in Siesta Key properties would, I know, be pleasure to assist you.

Sarasota - Bradenton Beaches are Still Pristine

2010-08-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

Sarasota and Manatee County Florida beaches, including those from Anna Maria Island and Bradenton, through Sarasota, with its Island Keys including Longboat, Siesta, Lido, and Casey Key, and south to Venice and Nokomis remain untouched, clean and as pristine as ever. Sarasota - Bradenton area waterfront properties and beachfront communities are untouched and remain as attractive to owners and investors as ever.

On August 4, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecast that what few patches of oil in the Gulf of Mexico as a result of the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig 130 miles southeast of New Orleans, remain well to the south and west of Florida.

No oil has been observed on the Florida coast for several weeks and it was reported today at a White House briefing that the "static kill" process to seal is working as expected with no oil escaping into the Gulf. British Petroleum, under the direction of Thad Allen, a retired Coast Guard admiral and director of the federal goverment's response began the static kill yesterday. After pumping heavy drilling mud aqll day yesterday, BP and U.S. officals reported that the well remains sealed. Federal officials including spill response commander Allen, continue to insist that crews shove more mud and cement down through the 18,000-foot relief well, which should be completed shortly, as the final step to permanently seal the well.

Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident. They reported that no recoverable oil has been seen through over-flights of the spill area since July 31. Satellite data analysis showed a few small scattered anomalies offshore but no new Florida shorelines are expected to be impacted at any time in the foreseeable future.

All Florida beaches are now open. NOAA announced this week that its latest analysis shows Southern Florida, the Florida Keys, and the East Coast are unlikely to experience any effects at all from the little oil remaining on the surface of the Gulf.

Only in the most northwestern-most Panhandle areas of the state have a few tar balls and light sheen been reported. Nonetheless, as a precaution, five state-leased skimmers remain on standby in that area to protect sensitive inland water bodies and all supplemental Tier 3 booms are being removed and stored in the area in the unlikely case they are needed at some point in the future.

For those with questions, the Florida Oil Spill Information Line (FOSIL) is available from 8am-6pm EDT daily.

•English – (888) 337-3569
•TDD – (800) 955-8771 / Voice – (800) 955-8770
•Spanish – (877) 955-8773

If you have been concerned about how the Gulf oil spill might affect your vacation plans or your interest in investing in a Sarasota area home or condominium on the waterfront, or close to our gorgeous beaches, rest assured. Our pristine beach communities and waterfront properties from Anna Maria Island and Bradenton to the north, through Sarasota, with its Island Keys including Longboat, Siesta, Lido, and Casey Key, and south to Venice and Nokomis have been untouched and remain as attractive to visitors and investors as ever.

Been wondering when would be the best time to buy that greater Sarasota Florida area home or condominium you've been dreaming of owning ? Well, right now is the time, so "Come On Down."

Are You Familiar with this Sarasota Neighborhood?

2010-07-16T07:03:00.000-07:00

Oyster Bay is a lush "West of the Trail" neighborhood directly on Sarasota Bay featuring classic 'Old-Florida' bungalows and ranches intermixed with executive waterfront mansions on over-sized lots," says Brian Ward, a long-time Sarasota real estate buyers agent. "This older neighborhood has wonderful, mature oak trees and lush landscaping that only continuous care over time can provide," he says.

Next door is the prestigious Field Club, a private club providing its members with docking facilities, tennis courts and a very active social calendar. Oyster Bay residents have convenient access from their homes to all the arts and cultural amenities of downtown Sarasota as well as the casual lifestyle of Siesta Key just across the bridge.

Some homes are directly on the Gulf while others are on deep water canals with no bridges to limit sailboat access to the Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

While many buyers in this community are seeking already remodelled and updated homes, others choose to buy an existing modest home, tear it down and build their own new dream home in this prestigious Sarasota neighborhood. Modest homes are priced in the $400,000 range while elegant estates on the waterfront sell for as much as $5.0 million.

Whether you're a sailing or boating enthusiast or just seeking an upscale in-town location, Oyster Bay will meet your every wish and desire.

To learn about all of the waterfront properties available from Bradenton and Anna Maria Island to the North, through downtown Sarasota and out on our island keys and South through Osprey and Venice, you may wish to visit the Sarasota Florida real estate website of Rich Stover or Connie Belmont, a well-known downtown-oriented Sarasota FL real estate expert.

Interested in a Sarasota Golf Course Home ?

2010-05-12T08:41:00.000-07:00

Every type and price range of golf course home you could want is available now in the Sarasota Bradenton Florida area at prices you may never see again.

But, there are differences in our golf courses from the membership and amenities available on private courses to the level of difficulty of each course. Similarly, there are substantive difference among the many golf course communities surrounding those golf courses.

Some of the homes and condos on our Sarasota Golf Courses are designed for year-round living, while others are designed more as seasonal get-a-way spots. You can review many of the Sarasota area's most popular Sarasota Golf Course Communities on my website.

To find your perfect golf community home for you, you need the assistance of a knowledgeable Realtor® to sort out the differences and advantages of each location.

For those in your family who are less addicted to golf, Sarasota Florida has wonderful cultural and social attractions, shopping and dining and numerous boating and fishing venues. And, of course, Sarasota has some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida and the nation.

To be sure you get exactly the home or condo you want in Sarasota Florida, benefit from my experience and expertise. In addition to golf course homes, I also show and sell waterfront homes and downtown Sarasota urban living spaces which you can familiarize yoursxelf with on my other Sarasota real estate website.

I would be delighted to show you around Sarasota Florida and its many wonderful golf course, waterfront and downtown homes and condos. Call me directly at 941-228-9682. I'd be happy to answer your questions or send you information on Sunny Sarasota Florida.

Before You Buy Your First Home

2010-05-01T11:20:00.000-07:00

It seems easy enough. Just find a home you like and buy it as long as the mortgage payment including taxes fits your budget. The problem is that there is a lot more to buying and owning a home that fits you and your income than that.

That's because transitioning from renting to owning a home costs more than just the mortgage and taxes. When something breaks or quits working, you can't just call the landlord, says Brian Ward, a respected Sarasota real estate agent.

Most young singles and married couples are carrying a pretty hefty debt load from either college loans, car payments or credit card purchases before they think about buying a home. All of these expenses need to be included in your financial analysis before you start looking at homes.

The smart first step in the home buying process is to sit with a competent Realtor and review your finances. He or she will review all of your sources of income and all of your expenses. In addition to assuring that the cost of a home's PITI (that's mortgage Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance) fits comfortably within your budget, you need to leave yourself a "cushion" for all the other home ownership expenses that will surely come with the home -- things like furnishing it, paying monthly utility bills, even buying a lawn mower and yard tools as well as repairing or replacing an appliance, a broken window or a faulty garage door opener. Yes, the expenses associated with all of these things and more are about to become your responsibility.

Many young singles and married couples are carrying a fairly heavy debt load from college loans, car payments or credit card purchases even before they think about buying a home. All of these expenses need to be included in your financial analysis.

An experienced and honest Realtor like Cheryl Stimac, a well known Tampa real estate expert or Judie Berger, an expert Siesta Key realtor will help you find your way through this fist-time home buyer process doing you a big favor in the process.

If there's one source of friction a young couple does not need as they start their home ownership experience is being "house poor," a situation where your new home eats up so much of your income that you have nothing left with which to enjoy your life together.

Take you time, do your homework, and only then, go out with the Realtor of your choice and find that home that is not only perfect for you but which fits your pocketbook as well as your dreams.

Have You Visited This Sarasota Realtor Site?

2010-04-28T09:00:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Dick Plumb's Sarasota real estate website where you will find lots of helpful info on Sarasota Florida and information on all the nicest neighborhoods and communities in the area.

The Sarasota Bradenton area has over 80 challenging golf courses, the softest beaches in Florida, sparkling waters, romantic sunsets, world-class shopping, sophisticated arts, fine dining, year-round boating & fishing, and a casual,and affordable lifestyle.

On Dick's site, you can also review all the most attractive Golf Course Communities in our area.

The Sarasota area, including Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Longboat Key and Siesta Key, is a paradise of waterfront and golf course homes and condos in all prices. Sarasota area golf courses are among the best in Florida. Sarasota schools are highly-ranked as are those in Bradenton and Manatee County.

You'll love the sunny Sarasota Florida lifestyle. Dick will help you find that one perfect seasonal or year-round home or condo in the Sarasota FL real estate market. Buying a home in the Sarasota area right now would be an excellent investment.

As your Sarasota Florida real estate professional, I know Dick will work tirelessly to help you find the perfect home, condo or investment property. Call him today at 941-371-7632 or request his Sarasota Information package.

March Was a Banner Month for Sarasota Home Sale

2010-04-27T14:06:00.000-07:00

Home and condominium sales in the Sarasota - Bradenton Florida real estate market, which includes Lakewood Ranch, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and Lido Key, reached 753 in March 2010, according to the Sarasota Association of realtors. This is the highest total since December 2005 and over 56% above March of 2009. AS of March 31st, there were an astounding 1,060 pending sales, the highest total in the past 4 years. And, perhaps the most positive metric for the month was that the median sale price for both single family homes and condos rose again in March from the previous month and were also much higher than in March 2009.

Perhaps the best Sarasota real estate news is that the level of distressed property sales dropped in March 2010 to 41% of overall sales, compared to 47% in February 2010-- another very encouraging sign.

Homes in price ranges that are most attractive to first-time buyers have actually entered a "seller's market", probably reflectiing the effect of the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit.

In summary, March, 2010 was a spectacularly good month for Sarasota Florida area home sales and most likely a clear indication that the worst is over both in terms of price depreciation and the length of time required to sell a home.

For prospective sellers, the Sarasota real estate news could hardly be better. For prospective buyers, however, this is a clear signal that if they want a home or condominium on the Sarasota - Bradenton SunCoast, time is working against them. They need to contact a Realtor, find the home of their dreams, and get a deal done before prices start climbing beyond their reach again.

Baltimore Orioles Unveil Plans for Ed Smith Stadium Renovation

2010-01-29T06:28:00.000-08:00

The Baltimore Orioles are moving their baseball spring training operations to Sarasota after spending 14 years in Fort Lauderdale. The Orioles signed a 30-year lease for Ed Smith Stadium. In return, Sarasota County committed to renovating the facility as part of the $31 million deal that brought the O's spring training to Sarasota.

This past week, architects presented drawings to county officials of the planned renovations to Ed Smith stadium which 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 update the stadium by adding more seating, providing more shaded areas and updating the general "feel" of the place according to Sarasota architect Gary Hoyt one of the architects working on the renovation.

The new two story facade is expected to features three arches with a direct and inviting view of the ball field. As the stadium stands 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 games begin, practices are closed to the public and a game ticket is required for admission. Tickets to all of the 16 games of this spring training season can be purchased online at Orioles.com or by calling the O's Spring Training line at (941) 954-4101 for an order form that may be faxed or mailed back to the stadium. Phone orders are not accepted

Baltimore Orioles spring training baseball here in Sarasota along with the Pittsburgh Pirates spring training in next-door Bradenton, along with so many other golfing and other sporting venues and events provides just one more reason why Sarasota Florida is the best place to buy your next home or condominium.

Please Visit My Updated Website

2010-01-06T12:21:00.001-08:00

We have just completed a major update of my website dealing with Sarasota and Bradenton Florida Sun Coast area. The site includes loads of information on the Sun Coast area spanning from Anna Maria Island, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch in Manatee County just north of Sarasota to Venice and Osprey at the southern end of Sarasota County as well as info on Lido Key, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and Casey Key.

We also include listings of all the major golf courses and marinas as well as profiles on the most popular golf course and waterfront communities and downtown Sarasota urban living spaces.

In addition, the site includes lots of useful hints and tips for buyers and sellers of Sarasota - Bradenton area real estate

I invite to check out my Sarasota Florida website and let me know if you have any questions or suggestions for additions to its content. Feel free to E-Mail Me with your thoughts.

Introducing Lakewood Ranch on Florida's Sun Coast

2009-12-23T09:29:00.000-08:00

Where can you find a newly-developed master planned community comprised of seven villages including townhomes, condos, single family homes and custom estates. Let me introduce you to Lakewood Ranch, a new community on the border between Sarasota and Bradenton Florida, astride the Sarasota and Manatee County line. It's a place where families become neighbors, neighbors become family and everyone enjoys a wonderful sense of community.

In addition to the widest possible variety of homes, townhomes and condominiums, Lakewood Ranch includes top-rated schools, three golf courses, a hospital and medical center, gourmet and family restaurants, unique shops and boutiques, business parks, an athletic center with fitness, aquatics and 18 lighted tennis courts, jogging trails and even Polo and Cricket clubs. The community is open and inviting to all as evidenced by its 21 houses of worship.

All this is linked together with a network of over 150 miles of sidewalks and trails, community parks, lakes and nature preserves with forest and wetland preserves with abundant wildlife.

And for those now thinking more eco-friendly in their lifestyle, it is nice to know that the 8,500 acre master planned community of Lakewood Ranch has been designated as the largest green-certified community in the United States. The town is committed to remaining green in all aspects of residential and commercial development.

Lakewood Ranch, located on Florida's West Coast in Manatee and Sarasota counties easily accessible from Interstate I-75 is an easy commute from all three area airports; the Sarasota-Bradenton, St. Petersburg and Tampa airports.

The heart of Lakewood Ranch is "Main Street." This outdoor venue consists of more than 30 stylish boutiques, 7 international restaurants, and the Lakewood Ranch Cinemas. Famous-name and specialty shops line the streets. The open-air environment provides a unique plaza for strolling and shopping. A central pavilion hosts special events, farmers markets, concerts and festivals throughout the year making Main Street the focal point of the community; its own, unique "downtown."

I would be delighted to introduce you to this uniquely inviting new town. Please E-Mail me or call me on my direct line at 941-228-2321 with the date you'll be in town. I would love to show you around Lakewood Ranch and other golf course and waterfront communities in the Sarasota Bradenton area of the Florida "Sun Coast" including Anna Maria Island and our island keys, Lido, Siesta and Longboat Key.

No Need to be a "First-Timer" to Qualify for the New Home Buyer Tax Credit

2009-11-09T13:22:00.001-08:00

The current first-time home buyer tax credit, which expires on November 30th, has been extended through April 30, 2010 by Congress, It has also been expanded to cover those who in many cases may already own a home.

The new legislation expanded eligibility for the home buyer tax credit to include people with higher incomes and those who have already owned a home for at least five years so long as they sign a purchase contract by April 30, 2010 and close on the purchase by June 30, 2010.

The $8,000 maximum first-time buyer tax credit will continue and now be available to individuals with incomes up to $125,000 and couples with annual incomes up to $225,000. Home buyers with incomes up to $145,000 and couples with incomes up to $245,000 will be eligible for reduced tax credits.

Under similar income limits, a $6,500 maximum credit will be available to many families who already own a home and presumably wish to move up to a larger home.

Under the new income limits, two-thirds of all American families who own their own home may be eligible to buy a new home. While buyers will not be required to sell their current home to qualify for the new tax credit, the money must be used to buy a new "primary residence", not a vacation home or investment property.

To exclude from the program speculators who might purchase a home intending to flip it for a fast profits, people who claim the tax credit but then sell the home or no longer use it as their primary residence within three years will be required to repay the credit.

Here's a "heads-up" to those who may have considered buying a first home under the prior program but didn't get around to it.

"Contact a Realtor and get started now. This great deal ends on April 30, 2010."

Legislators in both houses of Congress have indicated that this costly program will not be extended a second time. Critics point out that only about 1/4 of the homes purchased under the prior program would not have been bought anyway without the costly tax-credit program. There are also concerns that the original first-time buyer credit program included high numbers of fraudulent transactions. In this version of the program, the Internal Revenue Service has been given much wider authority to oversee the process to root out fraud.

For more information on homes for sale in the Sarasota real estate market, including Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch, as well as our Island Keys of Longboat, Siesta and Lido Key, I invite you to request my free Sarasota Home Buyer Information Package or call me directly at 941-228-2321 or at my Sarasota RE/MAX Office at 941-360-7777.

Things Are Looking Up for Sarasota Real Estate

2009-10-04T10:43:00.001-07:00

The latest home sale figures for the Sarasota real estate market point to a slowly improving market here driven in part by the first-time buyer tax credit, but also by the substantially lower prices of homes and condos.

Total home and condo sales totaled almost 500 again in August compared to only 329 homes and condos sold in August of 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 under contract but not yet closed, in August were 820, more than 50% higher than the 541 pending sales in August of 2008.

The median home price in August for a single family home was $155,000 very close to the figures seen in January through May showing that prices are finally stabilizing. The median sale price for condominiums was $285,000 up substantially from the $212,000 in July also showing a stabilization, and maybe even the start of a recovery, in condominium prices.

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.

Building or Remodeling with Eco-friendly Materials - Beware of Asbestos Risks

2009-09-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

Newly bought homes are often remodeled and repairs may be needed. Having the assistance of an honest real estate agent can make all the difference in the many steps that lead to home ownership. Sarasota Florida is known for its beautiful sandy beaches, too many golf course communities to count, and a vast array of arts and cultural amenities. What potential home buyer would not want to call the Sarasota area their home?

When searching for a new home or apartment in Sarasota, there are many things to consider and decisions to be made. Having the assistance of an honest and experienced Sarasota real estate Buyers Agent can make all the difference in the many steps that lead to home ownership.

While many homeowners may think that building green can take a toll on the wallet, the benefits outweigh any initial monetary losses. Building or remodeling your homes with eco-friendly materials can lower utility and water bills, achieve federal tax credits, higher real estate value, purer air quality, reduced waste sent to landfills and conservation of natural resources.

Asbestos

Gaining popularity more than a century ago, asbestos was used in many industrial and building applications throughout the 20th century due to its fire resistant qualities. Asbestos typically appeared in ceiling insulation, piping, siding, roof shingles and flooring. Homes and buildings built before 1980 may still contain asbestos materials. This should not make you jump out of your seat because asbestos exposure can be easily prevented by taking simple precautions.

Healthy Tips

If you locate any suspected asbestos in the home, most experts suggest leaving it un-disturbed until a home inspector can examine your property, take evaluations and determine the safest course of action. Sometimes the best action is no action at all. Disturbing asbestos in good condition may cause its fibers to be released into the air.

If asbestos needs to be removed, it should be performed by licensed abatement contractors. These contractors are trained in the handling and disposal of asbestos in public facilities and homes. Although it may prove to be costly, it is worth the price for achieving a healthy home.

Exposure can result in the development of related illnesses such as mesothelioma and asbestosis. Mesothelioma causes are as a result of inhaling asbestos fibers that become ingested in the inner linings of your lung.

Home Green Alternatives

The implementation of Eco-construction, green energy solutions will play an important role in the transformation to a healthier and sustainable world. Many locations throughout the United States are swiftly changing their construction practices to suit the environment and the health of human beings. Sustainability and energy guide many aspects of life in Florida.

Many green healthy alternatives to asbestos are available and should be sought out upon removal or renovation. These include the use of cotton fiber, lcynene foam and cellulose. Cotton fiber is quickly becoming a favorite for home builders and renovators. Made from recycled batted material, it is also treated to be fireproof. Research suggests that these Eco-friendly insulation alternatives can even reduce annual energy costs by 25 percent.

Have You Visited Bradenton Beach

2009-08-28T10:40:00.000-07:00

Bradenton Beach, one of three communities on Anna maria Island is a vibrant waterfront community of about 1,500 residents. This charming beach village sits at the southern end of Anna Maria Island, just North of Longboat Key, where Sarasota Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico.

Laid back, friendly and open-hearted, Bradenton Beach welcomes visitors and new residents with equal warmth.

With miles of sugary white sand beaches on the gulf-side, Bradenton Beach is an ideal waterfront community if what you want is the casual ambiance of a secluded village. While Gulfside homes have gorgeous sunset views, natural mangroves accentuate the Sarasota Bay side of Bradenton Beach.

Here you can sail on warm Florida Gulf waters with steady winds off Bean Point or enjoy some exhilarating kite surfing just south of the Beach House Restaurant in Bradenton Beach. Go parasailing or snorkeling. Go scuba diving on reefs just off shore of Anna Maria Island for giant grouper. Fish from the popular City Pier or hop aboard a charter fishing boat to go after tarpon, dolphin and sailfish. For the more sedate, while away the day paddling through mangroves or collecting shells on beautifully white beaches
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In the middle of Bradenton Beach, just back from the beach, is a charming village famous for its ultra-casual beach combing lifestyle. Seaside inns and “Old Florida” cottages have been fastidiously preserved. Residential choices on the island vary from classic to modern, from bungalow to beach villa. All enjoy an unspoiled natural beauty and a casual and friendly, laid-back lifestyle. What a grand place to spend a seasonal get-a-way now, and then when it's time, to while away your retirement years.

If you would like to know more about Bradenton Beach waterfront homes or about our white sand beaches, shopping and dining, I'd be happy to show you around this wonderful island community.

I invite you to learn more about the entire Bradenton Florida area including this wonderfully casual community of Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island. Request my Bradenton Florida Real Estate Information Package. For more immediate assistance, call me directly at 941-228-2321 or at my RE/MAX Office at 941-360-7777.

Baltimore Orioles Spring Training Coming to Sarasota

2009-08-20T06:40:00.000-07:00

Sarasota County 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 all the many advantages of living the Sunny Sarasota lifestyle. For more immediate service, call me directly on my cellphone at 941-228-2321.

Learn About Sarasota Area Golf Course Communities

2009-07-29T09:39:00.000-07:00

Sarasota may be the premier "golf town" in all of Florida. If you are searching for a golf course community in which to buy your dreamhome, the Sarasota Bradenton area is the right place to look. I've put together on my website a list of over 20 of the most desirable golf course communities in the Sarasota Florida area 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 these golf course communities in Sarasota and Manatee County will surely fit your needs and desires.

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.

I invite you to learn more about the Sarasota and Sarasota County real estate market. Request my free Sarasota Florida Information Package or, for more immediate attention, call me directly at 941-228-2321 or at my Sarasota RE/MAX Office at 941-360-7777.

All About Buying A "Short Sale" Home

2009-06-30T05:53:00.000-07:00

You may be wondering what a "short sale" property is. In most cases, it is a property whose owner is facing foreclosure and trying to preserve his/her credit rating.

Short sales are different from other property sales. Instead of only involving two parties, the buyer and seller, a short sale also involves the holder of the mortgage loan. The seller has approached his or her mortgage holder requesting to sell the property for less than the balance owed on the mortgage, thus the expression “short” sale. The mortgage holder may reject that request and proceed into foreclosure, but many banks are ready now to accept less money for a property than is owed on it because a short sale will likely cost the bank less than putting the property through foreclosure. A short sale can be a good deal for the seller and it can also make the property a good deal for a buyer.

If you are a buyer looking for a great deal, a short sale properties can be an attractive option although you need to understand the differences between a normal real estate purchase and a "short sale." In a short sale, the buyer and seller negotiate and agree on a price as with a normal real estate transaction. The differences are as follows. You will have to offer to buy the property "as is." The seller is very unlikely to agree to pay for any repair needs uncovered during a home inspection. You also will not be able to stipulate any contingencies. At this point, the process moves out of the seller’s hands to the bank’s loss-mitigation department.

To increase your chances of a successful offer, make your offer price reasonable and include a substantial earnest money deposit. If you plan to use a mortgage to pay for the home, include a lender approval letter with your offer.

A buyer's offer usually takes about 30 or more days to get through the bank's loss mitigation process. Mortgage holders seldom make counter-offers and some banks will not notify you or your Realtor if the offer has been rejected... only if it is accepted.

If you are a prospective short sale buyer, I will work with you to get you the best possible deal. With my designation as an "Accredited Buyer Representative," you can feel confident that I know how to go about getting exactly that for you.

I invite you to call me directly at 941-228-2321 or at my Sarasota REMAX Office at 941-360-7777 with any questions you may have. I always have available a list of Sarasota area short sale properties available for viewing.

Sarasota Florida Home Sales Top 500 Again In May

2009-06-15T10:35:00.000-07:00

Overall home sales in the Sarasota real estate market exceeded 500 for the second time since June 2008, inventory levels dropped, and the median sale price for both single family and condominiums stabilized in May 2009. These statistics all point toward a normalization and moderation of the market following a more volatile period during the past two years.

Overall home sales of 506 included 375 single family homes and 131 condominiums,
nearly identical to the April, 2009 numbers. Pending sales also remained at highly elevated levels, with 719 pending sales for single family homes and 210 pending sales of condominiums in May. The trend for pending sales has been upward for several months beginning in March 2009, when the figure topped 800 for the first time in three years.

“We are all encouraged by the recent strength of the Sarasota - Bradenton - Venice real estate market, and we're hopeful that this upward trend will continue as we enter the traditionally slower summer season,” said Sarasota Association of Realtors President Bill Geller. “Of course, until we get through this period of elevated foreclosures and short sales, the median sales price will remain artificially low."

Sarasota has mirrored the national trend. The median sale price for single family homes stood at $155,000 in May 2009, down slightly from the figure of $160,000 in April 2009. The median sales price for condo was $181,000 in May, also slightly lower than last month’s figure of $182,750. While prices have leveled off, they are still much lower than May 2008, primarily due to the high number of short sales and foreclosures, which have pulled down the median prices from last year’s levels.
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The health of the Sarasota real estate market in May 2009 continues to improve for both single family homes and condominiums as inventory of homes for sale continues to decline.

If you would like to know more about homes for sale in Sarasota and its surrounding communities of Bradenton, Osprey and Venice, visit my Sarasota & Bradenton Real Estate website. You may also want to review my thoughts on my view of the proper role of a Sarasota Florida Buyer's Agent. I invite you to call me directly at 941-228-2321 or at my Sarasota REMAX Office at 941-360-7777 with any questions you may have.

Consumer Confidence Soars as Sarasota Homes are at Bargain Prices

2009-05-27T11:03:00.000-07:00

U.S. consumer confidence soared in the month of 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 and soaring unemployment.

The Conference Board said on May 26th that its index of consumer attitudes jumped to 54.9 in May from a revised 40.8 in April, well above forecasts which centered around 42.0. That was the biggest one-month jump since April 2003. Index values above 50 reflect a positive movement in the level of consumer confidence.

The 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.

If you would like to know more about homes for sale in Sarasota and its surrounding communities of Bradenton, Osprey and Venice, visit my Sarasota & Bradenton Real Estate website or call me directly at 941-228-2321 or at my Sarasota RE/MAX Office at 941-360-7777.

Anna Maria Island - Florida's "island in the Sun"

2009-05-11T12:17:00.000-07:00

Living on an secluded, relaxing island may be only a dream for you right now, but Anna Maria Island still has many modestly priced homes, condominiums and villas available for sale at the right price

Each of Anna Maria island's three cities has spectacular beaches and continuous outdoor activities -- plus dozens of enjoyable shops and restaurants. Anna Maria Island is also home to the delightful Key Royale golf course in Holmes Beach. Each of the three cities on the island, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach tries to preserve the "Old Florida" flavor that is the island's heritage by limiting the size and type of buildings.

Whether you're looking for a multi=million-dollar waterfront villa, a beautifully restored home, or a rustic cottage, Anna Maria Island has it all. There is a home in the town of Anna Maria, itself, or in Holmes Beach or Bradenton Beach that's perfect for you.

I invite you to learn all about the waterfront and other homes available on Anna Maria Island. For more immediate assistance, call me directly at 941-228-2321 or at my Sarasota REMAX Office at 941-360-7777. I look forward to being of assistance to you.

Waterlefe Golf and River Club in Bradenton Florida

2009-04-29T06:29:00.000-07:00

Fine Homes, Championship Golf and a Marina
Waterlefe Golf and River Club, located in Bradenton, Florida along the Manatee River is a community of fine homes and an 18-hole championship golf course on over 630 acres of magnificent landscaping and amenities which blend into the natural waterside area.

The golf course winds through conservation areas and along the scenic Manatee River. While the golf course is a sight to behold, the River Club features fine dining, banquet facilities, a fitness room, swimming pool, tiki bar and The Pointe family gathering area, a relaxing retreat for residents to enjoy a picnic or a stroll through conservation areas and along the scenic Manatee River.

If you are a boating enthusiast, you should check out the 59 boat marina and private boat docks lining the Manatee River. Another 14 congregate docks are convenient for those who prefer to keep their boats at their home.

What Canadian Buyers Need to Know About Florida Real Estate

2009-04-16T10:42:00.001-07:00

I've recently written an article covering several things that Canadian citizens considering buying a second home in Florida should be aware of to make the most advantageous investment.

You may access that information on my website at
What Canadian Buyers Need to Know About Florida Real Estate.

After reading the article if you have questions or would like information on attractively priced homes and condos in the Sarasota Bradenton Florida area, call me at 941-228-2321 or E-Mail Me. I'd be happy to be of assistance.

A Home Seller Can Assist In Your Home Purchase

2009-04-04T08:58:00.000-07:00

If you are ready now to take the step of buying a home, but don't have all the upfront cash you think you'd need, there are several ways in which a home seller can assist you in buying his home. A competent Realtor can review all of your options but here are a few examples.

FHA MORTGAGE WITH SELLER FINANCED CLOSING COSTS
FHA has a mandate to help people buy homes so they make it easier for a buyer to qualify for a loan with more lenient income to debt ratios and credit scores. Sellers are also allowed to contribute up to 6% toward the Buyers closing costs. FHA mortgages requiring as little as 3.5% of the purchase price as down payment have been available for years. Your Realtor, working with the home seller and an FHA-approved mortgage provider, can structure your loan so that the seller pays all or nearly all of your closing costs, other than the 3,5% down payment. In the current market environment, many home sellers are willing to participate in this type of arrangement to get their home sold.

BUY DOWNS – There are many variations of the "Buy Downs," Some are permanent, where the interest rate is reduced over the entire life of the loan. Others are more temporary, allowing you to keep the interest rate, and therefore your monthly payment, low for the first 1 -3 years of the loan. The most popular is what's known as a 3-2-1 Buy Down. Here your rate is 3% below the market interest rate in the first year, 2% in the second year, and 1% below in the third year. This allows you to grow into your loan payments over 3 years. If your expectation is that your family income will grow over that period by enough to cover the eventual cost, this may be an option for you. "Buying down" your first 3 years of loan payments in this manner will cost the seller roughly 4.5% of the loan amount. As an example, on a $225,000 mortgage the fixed rate payment at 6.5% would be $1,422.15. Using a 3-2-1- buy down, the first year payment would be $1,010.35, the second year is $1,140.04, the third year is $1,277.53, and in the remaining 27 years, $1,422.15. That "buy down" of the first three years payments saved the buyer over $10,000 in mortgage payments.

SELLER FINANCING – Less frequently, but occasionally, there are sellers who own their home outright (no mortgage on the property) who will agree to assist you by holding your mortgage. In this case, you do not have to qualify through the normal bank financing route. In effect the seller, instead of a bank or other mortgage company, becomes your mortgage provider. Such a mortgage can be written with essentially any terms and conditions that you and the seller agree upon ranging from financing 100% of the purchase price to requiring a minimal or larger down payment, with or without a "balloon payment" at some point in the future, and for a term of 10, 15, 25 or 30 years.

If the home seller is motivated, and there are no other offers for the home, he may be willing to work out a deal. However, if the seller is unfamiliar with seller financing, your Realtor can show them what is involved and how the process works.

Such private lenders frequently charge a higher interest rate and may want to use this approach to get the highest possible price for their property so you need to deal with a competent Realtor who can negotiate your way through this option for you. But, if cash on hand is the problem you are dealing, this approach may be an option.

The point of this discussion is this. If you have a reasonably decent credit rating FICO score and are ready to buy your first home, don't be scared off because you don't think you have enough saved up yet. The price of homes and the interest rates available are as low right now as they have been in a long time. Meet and discuss your options with a competent Realtor like Brian Ward, Sarasota Realtor. You may be closer to your dream of home ownership than you have dared to hope.

Bradenton Florida Homes Are More Affordable than Ever

2009-03-13T12:51:00.000-07:00

While existing home sales in other parts of the country have fallen for more than 6 months, the Bradenton - Sarasota real estate market was the fourth highest selling market in Florida.

Home sales for January, 2009 rose by 4% over the same month in 2008 in part because of a reduction in the median price of homes in our market. The median price in this market has fallen to $144,800 from $246,300 a year ago, the lowest it has been since November, 2001.

The decrease in home prices has meant that home ownership has once again become affordable for the average family and thus more families, young and older, are beginning to look at homes in the Bradenton Florida area. There are currently about 2,650 existing homes for sale and another 1,800 homes working their way through foreclosure in Bradenton so there are plenty of homes to consider.

Once people start looking at homes here, they also learn something else very appealing. Mortgage interest rates are at all-time lows. QuickenLoans.com is currently quoting a 30-year fixed rate mortgage at 4.75% (APR 4.967%) and a 15-year fixed rate mortgage at 4.25% (APR 4.622%).

For those with more limited down payment funds, an FHA Express 30-year fixed rate mortgage can be had for 5.00% (APR 5.185%). With an FHA Express loan, your down payment can be as low as 3.5% of the price of the home and first-time buyers, defined as anyone who has not owned a home in the past 3 years, are eligible for an income tax credit of up to $8000.

If you are a young family that has been wishing homes in the Bradenton Florida area would become more affordable so you could bring the pleasures and benefits of home ownership to your family, it's time to start looking.

If you are a senior looking for a warmer clime in which to retire, or maybe just a seasonal golf course or waterfront home or condo to escape the harsh northern winters, Bradenton Florida may be the right place and this may be the right time to make your move to the Florida SunCoast.

If you would call me at 941-228-2321 or e-mail me at brianward@remax.net, it would be my pleasure to be of service to you by either just answering your questions or showing you the many fine home and condo values available here. You may also want to visit my Sarasota Bradenton real estate website for information on the many golf course and waterfront communities here, all of which offer the delightful Florida SunCoast lifestyle.

Sarasota Home Sales Picking Up. Is It Time to Get Involved ?

2009-02-28T08:13:00.001-08:00

In spite of the national economic downturn, home sales in the Sarasota and Bradenton area of Florida rose again in January, 2009 bucking the national trend.

Bill Geller, President of the Sarasota Association of Realtors, is reported as having said that "even during downturns in the economy, opportunities exist for savvy buyers." The Sarasota - Bradenton real estate maket includes just about every type and size of residence and neighborhood one could want. The area, including our island keys offers waterfront homes and condos, golf course communities of wonderful new and existing homes as well as exciting places to live downtown in the heart of all the social, arts and cultural action.

There is no denying that over the past few years, home prices in our area have risen to a point where homes were becoming unaffordable to many people who eiher already lived here or who would like to move to our sunny Sarasota Florida area. But as of January, 2009, the median home price for a single family home in the Sarasota market fell below $150,000, meaning homes in our area are once again becoming affordable for middle-class working families.

The recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (known as the "stimulus package") includes a $75 billion Housing Support and Foreclosure Prevention program and also provides a tax credit of $8,000 for eligible first-time home buyers. These two programs, combined with historically low mortgage interest rates, are getting people interested in buying homes again and that is good news for everyone.

Once people start buying homes, they will need furniture, new carpeting, appliances, lawn mowers, and all sorts of help moving into and decorating their new homes. All of these will provide jobs and further strengthen the economic recovery thqt is just now beginning to take hold in this area.

Sarasota is perfectly situated with a good jobs market, beautiful weather, a plethora of arts and cultural attractions as well as over 80 golf courses, and now once again, affordable homes and condos.

Isn't it time you got serious about buying your dream home here in Sunny Sarasota Florida. Give me a call at 941-228-2321 or e-mail me at brianward@remax.net. You may also want to visit my Sarasota real estate website for even more information on the delightful Sarasota lifestyle.

Sarasota Florida - Florida's Premier Golf Town

2009-01-24T09:42:00.000-08:00

If golf is your passion, Sarasota may just be the premier "golf town" in Florida. If you are searching for a golf course community in which to buy your dream home, Sarasota is the very best place to look. There are over 80 golf courses in the metropolitan Sarasota area including several in nearby Bradenton, Osprey, Venice and on Longboat Key. Many of these courses are within golf course communities allowing you the luxury and convenience of walking or taking a golf cart to the first tee or the club house.

Golf in Sarasota traces its roots back to the late 1880s, when Sir John Hamilton Gillespie traveled from Scotland to the hinterlands of "Sara Sota" with his clubs in hand and a vision of what this land of natural beauty could become.

Our golf courses are open 12 months a year. Whether you enjoy the recreational and social amenities of an upscale country club lifestyle or you're just looking for a new "home course" there is a golf course or golf course community here that will fit you "to a tee." There are private, semi-private, and publc courses galore that will surely fit your needs and desires, whatever your level of play.

If you would like to know more about Sarasota and Mantee County golf course communities, visit the Sarasota Golf Course Communities section of my website. If your needs are more immediate, call me directly at 941-228-2321. I would be delighted to answer your questions and arrange to show you any or all of the many desirable golf communities in Sunny Sarasota.

Sarasota Waterfront Communities Info Added to My Website

2009-01-10T10:28:00.000-08:00

We have just updated our Sarasota Florida website with a new section 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 our website today and review all the new information that we'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 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 BrianWard@remax.net. I'd be delighted to be of assistance to you.

Thinking About "Going Green" with a More Eco-Friendly Home

2009-01-04T12:47:00.000-08:00

I invite you to read an article about building or remodeling a home in a sustainable eco-friendly way. This informative article is on my website as Resources to Help You "Go Green" in your Home.

I have been trained in "green housing" concepts. My RE/MAX Alliance Group office, one of the largest real estate brokerages in Florida, with offices in the Sarasota - Bradenton Florida area, 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 have also earned the coveted Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) designation. More than 1 million people in the United States are licensed to sell real estate. Of those, fewer than 2% are Accredited Buyer Representatives. My real estate representation, as your Buyer's Agent, is provided at no additional cost to you.

Interested ? I can help you find the best home for you at a fair market price whether you are looking for a "green" home or a more traditional offering. You may want to visit my Sarasota Florida real estate website to learn more. For more immediate service, call me on my direct line at 941-228-2321.

Introducing Heritage Harbor Golf Course Community

2008-12-15T13:09:00.000-08:00

Heritage Harbour is a new master planned golf course community in Bradenton, Florida bordering the Manatee River east of I-75. Heritage Harbour is situated on more than 2,500 acres of riverfront property including 200 acres of island in the Manatee River.

The Heritage Harbour community is made up of three distinct neighborhoods, River Strand, Stoneybrook and Lighthouse Cove, each with its own personality and amenities.

River Strand, an exclusive gated Golf and Country Club, is the northernmost neighborhood. Bordering the Manatee River, there are 27 holes of championship golf designed by Arthur Hill, and a Tuscan-inspired clubhouse will full amenities. Gracious homes ranging from single-family and coach homes to maintenance-free golf course condominiums are all situated on the River Strand golf course.

Stoneybrook, with its winding roads and beautiful lakes, reflects the perfect Florida lifestyle. Entering through the guard gate, the first views are of the sprawling golf course and beautiful clubhouse featuring casual and fine dining, banquet facilities, a grill room, pro-shop, aqua driving range, putting greens and locker facillities The single-family homes are spacious, of Spanish-Mediterranean architecture, and are nestled along beautifully landscaped streets.

Lighthouse Cove offers residents a home-town feeling at affordable prices. Located adjacent to the Central Park with 70-acre Beacon Lake, outdoor activities, family picnics and a neighborhood playground are just steps away from the residences. With features that first-time buyers won’t find anywhere else, Lighthouse Cove residences are town homes, condominiums and single-family homes with access to the Stoneybrook Clubhouse and golf course.

Residents of Heritage Harbour enjoy numerous amenities offered by this popular new community including golf, tennis, convenient shopping and the many outdoor activities. The community is comprised of manicured natural preserves, lush landscaping, beautiful boulevards and the grand Signature Lighthouse adjacent to Central Park. The centerpiece of Central Park is 70-acre Beacon Lake surrounded by a trail for walking, jogging, skating,and biking. In this wonderful park, you and your family can enjoy swimming, tennis, basketball and volleyball, as well as fishing, canoeing and just relaxing in a gazebo.

If you would like to know more about the Heritage Harbour golf course communities, contact Brian Ward, your Sarasota Bradenton home buyer agent. Brian would be delighted to show you around this wonderful new golf course community in Bradenton, Florida.

Go "Green" for the Holidays

2008-12-03T15:38:00.000-08:00

With the economy faltering and the new awareness of the need to reduce our carbon footprints, we're all more focused on being "green" these days - with respect to both our wallets and the environment. The holiday season can be a challenge for both of these interests with gifts to buy and wrap, decorating to do and holiday parties to throw and on and on. It has been estimated that during every week between Thanksgiving and the New Year, an extra one million tons of waste will be generated in the U.S. It's been estimated that 38,000 miles of Christmas ribbon are tossed away each year - enough to tie a bow more than once around the Earth!

Rather than waiting for your New Year's resolution time to go green, try a few of these tips to help you and your family live, give and save green this holiday season.

Go with the Glow
The holidays just wouldn't be the same without the twinkly glow of strings of lights along rooftops, eaves and in trees and shrubs. But those holiday lights are a real drain on your energy bill. LED lights use less than 10% of the electricity consumed by traditional filament bulbs and can save you close to 95% on your electricity bill.

Stay Home for the Holidays
Save time, money and stress. Stay home for the holidays this year saving money for gas and reducing pollution. use-less-stuff.com reports that if every American family reduced holiday gas consumption by just one gallon, that would mean driving just about 20 miles less, we would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one million tons. So think about enjoying the holidays this year at home.

Get Creative with Wrapping
Mass-produced wrapping paper generally is not recyclable and ends up in landfills. Instead, get creative. Wrap presents in old maps, the comics section of a newspaper, or in your children's artwork. The Sierra Club estimatges that if every family wrapped just three gifts this way, it would save enough wrapping paper to cover 45,000 football fields. And, does that pre-formed bow actually make the present all that much more attractive? Think about leaving those off your presents this year.

Give the Gift of Giving
Upgrading your electronic toys and computers this year? Do you have electronics, toys, appliances or clothes that your family no longer needs or uses? Donate those items to a local charity or shelter. You'll get rid of clutter, and, you'll keep all that stuff you donate from ending up in a landfill. Are you a neat-nik with nothing extra lying around the house? Think about making modest cash donations to local charities or food items to a local food bank and telling the folks you'd normally give some silly (and probably unwanted) gift to, that you've made a donation instead. If you know your friends' favorite charities, your donations may be even more appreciated. You'll be helping to reduce waste and at the same time, you'll be making someone's holiday a little brighter than it might have been.

Save A Shoppng Bag and a Tree
Instead of coming home with 15 shopping bags, all of which will end up in the trash, bring your own eco-friendly bags to the store. If you're afraid of being stopped for shoplifting, Danny Seo, author of "Simply Green Giving," fastens receipts to the outside of his bags with a binder clip he brings with him, clearly indicating that what is indisde was ought and paid for.

For your Christmas tree, go "real." Fake trees are petroleum-based and they are not biodegradable." One answer, depending on where you live, is to buy a live tree and plant it in your yard next Spring. Or get a fresh-cut tree and, after the holidays, take it to a recycling facility, where it can be turned into mulch.

Give Green, Live Green and Save Green
Make this your holiday slogan. These simple steps make it easy to bring a little more "green" to the Earth and save a little "green" in your wallet this holiday season. Have ideas of your own ? Write us a comment with your suggestions.

Happy Holidays to You and Yours

The Effect of Obama's Election on Florida Real Estate

2008-11-21T13:52:00.000-08:00

The election of Senator Barack Obama as president of the United States, along with gains by Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate begs the question, "How will the policies of the new administration affect the real estate 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 are ready to work with our new president and the new Congress on issues that are at the heart of the American dream of home ownership.”

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

The nomination by President-elect 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. He has been involved for many years working to stabilize the financial markets of the world.

ANOTHER STIMULUS PACKAGE
The Obama administration and Congress will also push for another economic stimulus package, particularly if the outgoing 110th Congress balks at passing one before the end of it's term. Hopefully this stimulus package will do more to stimulate jobs and therefore the affordability of housing, than the previous stimulus package. NAR and its siter organization in Florida, the Florida Association of Realtors (FAR) are also asking 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 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, and particularly Sarasota nd Fort Myers, are witnessing painful downward pricing pressure on homes for sale inventories due to the huge overhang of homes and condominiums in foreclosure.

HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM
Looking a bit further 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.

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 certainly true that the Florida real estate industry, especially here in the metro Sarasota Bradenton Venice area, can use all the help it can get and the sooner the better.

If you have questions about buying or selling a home or condo in the Sarasota or Bradenton area, feel free to call upon Brian Ward, Sarasota Realtor with REMAX Alliance Group, an experienced real estate professional.

Welcome to Bradenton Florida, Golfer's Paradise

2008-11-14T10:30:00.000-08:00

Bradenton Florida in Manatee County, Florida is definitely a "golfer’s paradise"!

With its "addiction" to golf, Bradenton Florida has more than its share of fine golf courses -- some of them perfect for yur level of play.

Bradenton, located just north of Sarasota Florida, is the largest city in Manatee County with a population of approximately 54,000. Bradenton and the new planned community of Lakewood Ranch play host to many family attractions such as the South Florida Museum and the Bishop Planetarium and the Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum.

For an lifetime of relaxed living in a golf course setting, Bradenton Florida is an extremely attractive place to live. Popular Bradenton golf courses include Waterlefe Golf & River Club, the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club community, the River Strand Golf & Country Club, River Run Golf Course and the Heritage Harbour golf course community.

There is a home or golf condo among the many Bradenton or Lakewood Ranch Florida real estate offerings that is just right for you and your family regardless of your age or circumstances.

If you would like to know more about Bradenton area golf courses, golf course homes and condos for sale, or its beaches, shopping and cultural amenities, visit my Sarasota Bradenton Florida real estate website. I'd be delighted to show you all there is to like about Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Anna Maria Island and all of the golf course and waterfront communities of Manatee County, Florida. Need information right away ? call me directly at 941-228-2321.

Meet Brian Ward, Sarasota Bradenton Buyer's Agent

2008-11-13T16:11:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to my real estate blog.

My name is Brian Ward and I provide real estate services specializing as a Buyer's Agent. If you are buying a home, you want someone who will represent you, the Buyer, not the Seller! To be certain that you are working with a truly professional Buyer's Agent you should enlist the services of a Buyer's Agent who has earned the Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) designation. Such well-qualifed buyer's agents frequently display the letters, ABR, after their name. I have earned that ABR designation.

More than one million people are licensed to sell real estate in the United States. Of those licensees, fewer than 2 percent are Accredited Buyer Representatives. My real estate services to you, as an Accredited Buyer Representative, are provided at no additional cost.

I serve the needs of home and condominium buyers throughout Florida's West Coast including Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Anna Maria Island, Venice and their surrounding communities.

Buying a home is a big decision and a personal one. You need the RIGHT PERSON to help you find a home that suits your needs - someone who knows the local real estate market, where to find the best home values, and who can help you get exactly the right home for you at the best possible price. I check the multiple listings throughout the day, so I know immediately when the best deals come on the market and I can alert you to them so you can one of the first parties to see them.

During the entire home buying process, you control the decisions. I handle the details -- the many steps that need to be handled efficiently on your behalf to assure that you get the right home at the right price with a minimum of difficulty or frustration. From identifying homes that meet your needs and wants, to offering the right price, handling inspections, going through the closing process and beyond, I am there to provide you with coaching and support. My goal is to help make your real estate investment an exciting, rewarding, and enjoyable, experience. And, to provide you with superior service at all times.

I invite you to visit my Sarasota & Bradenton Real Estate website to learn more about me and the sunny and casual lifestyle we enjoy here on Florida's Southwest Coast. If you prefer, you may call me directly at 941-228-2321 or simply request my free Sarasota Florida Information Package. I'd be delighted to mail it to you today.

Lakewood Ranch to Host EFest

2008-11-13T15:59:00.000-08:00

EFest, to be held this year in Lakewood Ranch in Bradenton Florida, is a major green living music and arts festival that unites hundreds of organizations and thousands of individuals that care about our environment. It’s a relatively small but growing, initiative say it's supporters in Lakewood Ranch and the surrounding area. But, they say, "the more people know about "green living," the better off we’re going to be in the long run."

The 4th annual EFest, to be held at the Sarasota Polo Club grounds November 15th and 16th is expected to attract over 25,000 people. EFest will feature more than 175 exhibitors, over a dozen bands and dance groups, dozens of food and beverage vendors and an eco-fashion show. there will also be a panel discussion with experts and community leaders,

Designed to bring awareness about preserving the environment, EFest provide visitors with access to community resources and teaches them about green alternatives to help them live more eco-conscious lives, according to Randy Moore, the executive director for EFest Florida, a not-for-profit organization.

One lucky visitor to EFest will win a Vespa scooter this year. Efest will also be raffling a number of other great items including two bikes from Village Bikes located in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch, two kayaks from Economy Tackle, a solar water heater from EcoTechnologies, an air purification system from EZ Breathe Ventilation Systems, golf for four at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club, multiple eco-tours in Florida, home delivery of organic groceries, and more.

A big problem in American society is our tendency to buy something, use it for a whle and then throw it away, filling a landfill somewhere. One of the ways EFest promotes environmental awareness is through a "Trash to Treasures Eco-Art Contest," which features art made of recycled, discarded, and reused items.

EFest will also include an area called the Children’s Eco-Village, which includes about 40 exhibitors and will show children how to grow a sustainable garden, according to Heidi Allwood, owner of Little Bookworms and Lakewood Ranch Book Sellers, a coordinator of the Children’s Eco-Village.

The EFest festival to be held this year in Lakewood Ranch is just one more example of the many and varied activities that go on regularly in the Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and Manatee County area of Southwest Florida that make life here so enjoyable.

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

If interested in this EFest event or in "green housing," you may wish to request more information about the Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch lifestyle from Brian Ward of REMAX who, in addition to having received training on green homes concepts, specializes in the Sarasota - Bradenton real estate market. Of course, you may also call Brian directly at 941-228-2321.

Process to Appeal Your Property Tax Valuation

2008-10-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

There is a fairly easy to use process by which Sarasota County property owners can file an appeal petition to have the assessment of their real estate property reconsidered. Such petitions are to 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 citizens. The VAB appoints special magistrates empowered to conduct hearings on such petitions.

You should file a petition with the Value Adjustment Board only if you disagree with the "value" placed on your real property. If you are are satisfied with the value but wish to object to the amount of your property taxes, you should take your complaint to the specific Taxing Authority involved, not to the Value Adjustment Board. 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 State law requires all taxpayer petitions filed with the Clerk appealing the value placed on their property by the Property Appraiser must be sworn to and notarized by the person filing the petition (using form DR486), submitted in duplicate, and accompanied by the filing fee. A petition 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, agricultural or high water recharge, classification application, 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 are not been properly notarized (if using form DR486) or are not accompanied by the filing fee will be deemed invalid and rejected under Florida Statutes Section 194.013(3) and returned to the petitioner with appropriate filing instructions. Return of a petition improperly filed does not grant a waiver nor does it extend the filing deadline. 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 a petition and the steps involved are available at Taxpayer Guide to VAB Petitions. You may also write to the
Clerk of the Value Adjustment Board, 1660 Ringling Boulevard, Sarasota, Florida 34236 or call the Sarasota County office at 941-861-5279.

Florida Immigrant Test Revised

2008-10-02T11:28:00.000-07:00

It will probably not come as a surprise to anyone living and working in the Sarasota bradenton area that Florida welcomes a substantial number of immigrants every year. For that reason, the state of Florida has been involved in a 10-city pilot program of a new immigration test.

In addition to Miami FL, the pilot cities included Albany, NY; Boston MA; Tucson, AZ; Denver, CO; Charleston, SC; Kansas City, MO; El Paso and San Antonio, TX; and Yakima, WA.

According to a recent Palm Beach Post article, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services decided to revise the immigration test a year ago but the new test was not implemented until now to give English as a Second Language schools, immigrant advocate groups, and other adult education facilities time to develop new training materials to prepare immigrants for the new test.

Many previous test questions were replaced with questions designed to test the prospective citizen's knowledge of the basic civic concepts essential to being an American rather than just ability to do rote memorization of facts.

Starting out with 142 questions, the pilot program reduced the final number of quetions to 100 by removing or revising questions that showed higher than normal failure rates or which did not include basic historical and civic concepts.

Several of the new questions ask for more meaningful answers than the previous test. For example, the old test asked "what country did we fight during the Revolutionary War." The new test changes the question to, "why did the colonists fight the British." Some other questions were made simpler. Previously, immigrants were required to name both Senators from their state whereas now they only need to identify one of their state's senators.

The way the new testing process works is as follows: immigrants study to learn the answers to all 100 questions. But when they actually take their test, they are required to answer orally only ten questions getting at least six of them correct. In addition, they now have to read a sentence in English and write a sentence given to them.

8 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint in Florida

2008-09-03T09:16:00.000-07:00

Today many Floridians are looking to conserve energy to save money but also to reduce their "carbob footprint" by making their home more “green.”

The biggest source of pollution in Florida is our coal-powered power plants so reducing the use of electricity in your home will make a big dent in your home's carbon footprint as well as in your energy bill. Electricity used to air condition your home, run your swimming pool filter pump, and in many homes, heat the pool and run your water heater account for nearly 75% of electicity usage. Here are some suggested ways to recduce the amount of electricity and energy consumed by your Florida home.

1 - Keep your home's thermostat at 78 degrees while you are home and at 82 degrees when you're away. It takes much less energy to cool a home to these levels than to lower levels. Invest in an inexpensive programmable thermostat to regulate the temperature in your home automatically. It will dramatically increase your chances of success with this suggestion by making it automatic.

2 - Keep your air conditioner fan in the "automatic" positon at all times. Running the fan all the time consumes a lot of electricity and doesn't actually make the home any cooler.

3 - Install them if you don't have them and use ceiling fans. Ceiling fans encourage evaporation of moisture from your skin making you feel more confortable. When you leave a room, remember to turn off the fan.

4 - Change your air filter every month. A dirty air filter forces your air conditioner to work harder to get the same amount of cooling. If you have a permanent filter, rinse it thoroughly every month. This is especially important if you have a pet. Pet hair and dander clog up air filters quickly.

5 - Keep your blinds and drapes closed when you're not home and, to the extent practical, even when you are home. When you're home at least try to keep the blinds and drapes closed on the sunny side of the home. When extra heat enters the home through windows and sliding doors the air conditioner has to work harder to maintain the same temperature.

6 - Have your air conditioner cleaned and checked every six months by a qualified air conditioning contractor. Have them also check for ductwork crimps or leaks. This will assure that the unit is running most efficiently and the periodic cleaning and maintenance may even add years to the life of the unit as well.

7 - If you have a swimming pool, another large consumer of electricity is your pool's filter pump. Many pool filter systems run up to 8 hours a day. Reducing that to 6 hours a day in season, and to 4 hours a day off-season will reduce your monthly electric bill sunstantially.

8 - Think about how you heat water. In many homes, swimming pool water is heated to extend the swimming season. Whether it is heated by gas or electricity, a pool heater consumes a lot of energy. Consider converting to a solar system. And, whle you're at it, look into having a solar-assist added to your hot water heater. About the only thing in Florida that is free is our sunshine and yet many still don't take advantage of it. Using the sun as an energy source will not only reduce your carbob footprint; it has the extra bonus of being "free."

First Time Home Buyer Tips

2008-08-21T10:47:00.001-07:00

We found the following article on another blog but thought it so valuable, we decided to re-publish it here. These really are the smart steps for a first-time (or for that matter) any home buyer to take.

Get to know a Realtor you feel you can trust. A Professional Realtor, experienced in both new construction and resale homes, can act as your Buyers Agent and advise you with

the merits of buying a new versus a resale home

various builder's strengths and weaknesses

how certain home upgrades affect future home value

the most economical way to finance your home

Your Buyers Agent will be happy to guide you through the many home buying steps from offer to closing without undue stress. It really is true .... an experienced Realtor will save you time, money and, perhasp most of all, grief in buying your first home.

Learn about the market before you shop for a home. Before you can purchase a home you need to feel comfortable about where you are buying and the price range you are dealing with. You can get an idea of the real estate market by researching properties for sale on the local MLS on or Realtor.com. But the best way to learn about the market is to enlist the assistance of a licensed Sarasota Realtor®.

Know how much to offer. Knowing how much to offer is one of the most difficult parts of buying a home. Your Buyers Agent can provide you with a list of recently sold properties of comparable size, location and amenities so you can compare selling prices. Then you'll know whether this property is realistically priced.

If a property has been on the market a while, the owner may accept a below-market offer. But, if the property is very desirable, the seller may just reject your offer wasting everyone's time. Your Buyers Agent Realtor can give you good advice on the right price to offer.

Some parts of Florida are more in demand than others. Property prices in the most in-demand areas continued to go up until just recently. Although they may have come down a bit recently, properties in very desirable areas have not gone down by much.

Officially cancel your inactive credit cards. If you have an credit card you're not using with a $5,000 limit, even though you owe nothing on it, some mortgage lenders consider that a potential future debt. Too many inactive credit cards with significant credit limits could keep you from obtaining a mortgage loan. Don't just cut up your extra cards; officially cLL and cancel them.

If you'll need a mortgage, shop for a lender before you shop for a home. Get pre-qualified (and preferably pre-approved). Pre-approval is powerful leverage during price negotiation.

If you need a mortgage, don't assume your credit is spotless. Ask your preferred lender to pull your credit report. It may contain errors or old unpaid balances that need to be addressed before you formally apply for a loan.

Between pre-qualification and closing, consult your mortgage lender before any major purchases. Credit purchases affect your qualification for a mortgage, even after you've been approved; right up to the day of closing on your home. For example, if you're going to buy furniture for your new home on credit, wait until after closing to avoid possibly impairing your mortgage approval

Be careful from whom you take advice. Don't count on Uncle Bob, who was a Realtor 20 years ago. Home builder's sales people and Realtors representing the seller won't necessarily tell you all you need to know. Your Buyer's Agent, on the other hand, is required by law to tell you everything he or she knows that could affect the value of the home.

Seller's and Realtors representing sellers of resale homes don't always tell the whole truth about the condition of the property. After you've gotten a purchase contract agreed to, get a professional home inspection so the Seller, not you, pays to correct any problems.

Buy a home you can really afford. There are tax advantages to owning a home, but, there are also on-going expenses (maintenance costs, decorating, lawn care, trash pickup, etc.) that you may forget in the excitement. "Buy a bit less home, rather than a bit more home than you think you can afford," is good advice.

On a new construction home, decide which features you want and stick with it. Some new home sales people will try to sell you upgrades which add little, if any, value to your home when you evenutally sell it. Your Buyer's Agent Realtor can help you know which upgrades do and don't add resale value.

For more information on Florida Real Estate, visit our website Real Estate of Florida. It's packed with useful information.

Sarasota July Home Sales News

2008-07-29T12:08:00.000-07:00

The following information 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®.

Sarasota Florida May Be The Ultimate Beach and Winter Get-away Town

2008-06-19T08:22:00.000-07:00

Once known primarily as a vacation and retirement destination, today Sarasota may be the ultimate winter-get-away, golf and beach town, with 35 miles of pristine white sandy beaches and over 200 sunny days a year. The quality of the sand on Sarasota area beaches is nothing short of legendary. The weather is unbeatable with an average year-round temperature of 71 degrees, and, there are over 80 public and private golf courses in the metro Manatee and Sarasota County area inlcuding Bradenton, Sarasota, Osprey and Venice.

Long-time residents swear that the Sarasota area has its own "micro-climate." When rain falls in Tampa, only 60 miles north, or south in Fort Myers, the skies seem to always remain fair over the Sarasota - Bradenton area. Sarasota received Money Magazine's "Best Small City" Award.

Sarasota Florida real estate offerings of homes and condos on golf courses or on the waterfront are among the most desirable in all of Florida and prices right now are lower than they have been in several years.

For more information on waterfront, as well as golf course, and downtown aurban living spaces, you may want to visit my Sarasota and Bradenton Real Estate website. Or, read about our many gorgeous Sarasota Area Beaches.

It's Hurricane Season..Are You Prepared?

2008-06-03T12:27:00.000-07:00

It's early June and the start of hurricane season not only in Florida but all over the Southeastern coast of the United States.

Are you prepared to protect youself and your family in case of any serious incident ? Remember, the planning ahead that you ought to do for a hurricane applies just as well to any emergency suituation so reviewing your preparedness for any eventuality would be a good investment of a few minutes of your time.

It's always better to be safe than sorry. You may want to take a few minutes now and read this Hurricane Readiness Article.

If you are considering buying or selling real estate property in Sarasota or Manatee County Florida, including Bradenton, Palmetto, Sarasota, Osprey, Longboat Key or Siesta Key, check out this Sarasota Florida real estate website for helpful Sarasota - Bradenton real estate, local community, schools and golf course information.

Sarasota and Bradenton Home Sales are Recovering Nicely

2008-05-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

According to a recent Sarasota Herald Tribune article, although local housing inventory stubbornly hovered near record high levels, the Sarasota-Bradenton market turned in the Sunshine State's best results for April,2008 while existing home sales activity ws up 16% compared with April, 2007. The Sarasota Bradenton real estate market was the only market in the state of Florida to show positive sales growth for April.

Meanwhile, the median sales price for homes dropped by only 2%, which some real estate observers interpret as a sign that the prolonged price erosion caused by the market's downslide last year may be finally leveling off. Home sales in this market have increased month-over-month each month for the past four months. April home sales, as registered in the Sarasota MLS were 567 units - the highest level in 10 months, and approximately 72% above the sales in January 2008.

Read the full Herald Tribune article.

Welcome to Heritage Oaks - One of Sarasota's newer golf communities

2008-05-17T13:04:00.000-07:00

The 18-hole Heritage Oaks Golf and Country Club community in Sarasota, Florida features all the hallmarks of great Florida golf. Designed by Jed Azinger and Gordon Lewis, this golf course and golf course community opened in 1997 just East of I-75. Heritage Oaks offers its residents free golf as well as an immaculate clubhouse and fully-equipped fitness center.

Other activities offered at Heritage Oaks include lighted tennis courts, book and bridge clubs, theater groups, scenic trails, and 5 heated pools.

Home choices range from maintenance-free condominiums and villas to single-family homes. The community is a perfect setting for an investment or for a seasonal or vacation home or condo.

If you would like to know more about gollf course living at Heritage Oaks, I would be happy to introduce you to this moderately priced community and the fun-filled lifestyle it offers. I invite you to visit the Sarasota Real Estate website of Andree Huffine, a Sarasota REMAX Realtor or you may call her directly at (941) 308-6752 or toll-free at my Office at (800) 966-2334.

Right Now May be the Right Time to Sell

2008-05-12T11:31:00.000-07:00

Right now might be the best time to sell your home in Sarasota Florida. I know it sounds crazy but read on.

Every home or condo has attributes about it that, now tht you've lived in it for a while, you wish you could change. You may have recognized these issues when you bought the property but the property fit your needs in other ways so you ignored them. Now those issues are beginning to "bug" you. The problem is that you cannot fix these problems now for various reasons.

It may be that 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. Or, maybe the cost of making the change would drive your investment in the home beyond what the neighborhood will support. Perhaps you should look at these "issues that can't be "fixed" as "opportunities." Are you kidding, you want me to consider selling my property now that home prices have dropped ?

Exactly, now might be the right time to sell your current home. While the price you'll get for your home may be down, so is the price of a home that doesn't have the same issues or drawbacks. With recent steep declines in Sarasota and Bradenton area home and condo prices and with mortgage rates at historically low rates, NOW may be exactly the right time to step up to the home that maybe you originally wanted but couldn't afford. And remember this. The "issues" you have with your current home may not be issues at all to a prospective buyer. Take the nearby school issue. For some people that would be a major advantage of your home.

Let's take an example. Suppose you bought your home 3 or 4 years ago for $300,000, but it has now lost 20% of its original value. It might sell today for closer to $240.000. But, the home you originally wanted; the one that sold then for $425,000 is also down now, by that same 20% to about $340,000, a drop of $85,000, almost one and a half times the reduction the price on your current home.

And with so many homes on the market right now, if the seller of the home you'd like really needs to sell, it is possible that, with the help of an aggressive Realtor, you can negotiate that price down even lower than $340,00. Chances are that if you could afford your $300,000 home 3 or 4 years ago, even with just normal yeqar over year increases in your income, you can probably afford the home you always wanted now that Sarasota area home and condo prices are so depressed.

As a bonus, when Florida home prices start to rebound, you'll not only have a nicer home, but that new home's price may rise even faster than your old one with its drawbacks.

For help in finding the perfect Sarasota Florida area home, visit the Sarasota Florida Real Estate website of Dick Plumb of Mt Vernon ERA. For more immediate help, you may call him toll-free at 888-818-8302 or you may E-Mail Dick for more info on Sarasota and Bradenton Florida real estate opportunities. Dick would be delighted to be of service.

March 2008 Sarasota Real Estate Sales Exceed 500

2008-04-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

Overall property sales in the Sarasota real estate market for March, 2008 topped 500 for the first time in eight months, according to statistics on the Sarasota MLS system. Acording to the Sarasota Association of Realtors, there were 514 real estate property sales in March, 2008, easily topping February sales of only 423.

Read the full Sarasota Association of Realtors news release.

Now may the right time, if you have been holding off, to get serious about a potential home or condo purcahse before the prices of homes in the Sarasota and Bradenton real estate markets start going back up again, as they surely will. Learn more about the metropolitan Sarasota real estate market at the websites of Bob Henley, Sarasota Realtor or Dick Plumb, Sarasota FL real estate expert.

April is National Fair Housing Month

2008-04-25T10:02:00.000-07:00

The "Fair Housing Act" was passed by Congres and signed into law forty years ago this month, n 1968. Yet, still today, alarming numbers of families are still denied housing and need the protections of this landmark law.

Kim Kendrick, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity said recently, “This report underscores the importance of HUD’s continued enforcement, education, and outreach activities to ensure that all Americans have equal access to housing opportunities.”

More than 10,000 people filed housing discrimination complaints in 2007 alone. Most of the complaints (43%) were by persons with disabilities. HUD also found racial housing discrimination (37%) to be the second most frequent reason individuals filed complaints under the Fair Housing law. Most complaints were by people who claimed to be victims of discrimination in the terms and conditions of the sale or rental of housing, or outright refusal to rent.

You may wish to read the full HUD News Release.

Persons who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination they should contact HUD at 1 (800) 669-9777 (voice), (800) 927-9275 (TTY). Additional information is available at www.hud.gov/fairhousing.

Sarasota Florida cuts budget to reduce property taxes

2008-04-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

In response to the property tax rollback passed by Florida voters in January of this year, the city manager of Sarasota has proposed budget cuts to reduce spending by enough to meet the property tax rollback statute.

What is yet to be seen is how local residents will react to the cuts in services forced upon the city by the voter-approved property tax rollback legislation.

On the other hand, this rollback of property taxes will hopefully encourage more snowbirds and others who have been avoiding Florida to reconsider investing in a second home or retirement property in the sunny gulf coast paradise that is the Sarasota Bradenton Florida metro area.

Read the full article.

Then view the websites of any of these expert Realtors serving the Sarasota Bradenton real estate market.

Andree Huffine, Sarasota Bradenton Florida listing agent Realtor, or Rich Stover, Sarasota Florida Realtor or Connie Belmont, Sarasota homes for sale expert or Beverly Rabalais, Siesta Key real estate professional. Any of these expereinced and responsive Realtors will be pleased to help you find the perfect real estate property for you and your family.

And there are very attractive properties for sale at reasonable prices right now on the Sarasota Florida real estate market.