Sarasota Speaks - real estate

Top Ranking For Coldwell Banker Agent

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:05:53 -0400

Wall Street Journal Ranks Stephen Pindel In Top 100.Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate announced that Stephen Pindel, a Sales Associate in the company’s Fort Myers office ranks #81 among the nation’s top 100 agents and teams in closed sides and volume by the Wall Street Journal/REAL Trends Top 400 rankings for 2010. These rankings are based [...]

Do You Know Your Realtor?

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:34:07 -0400

How well do you know your Realtor? The sale or purchase of a property will probably be one of your largest transactions. Isn't wise to know who is representing you in such a transaction?A few weeks ago I was showing property to some new clients.

American Advertising Federation Presents Silver Medal Award Locally

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:00:47 -0400

Linda Gross Awarded The American Advertising Federation Silver Medal Award.Linda Gross, owner of Advice Inc., was awarded the coveted Silver Medal Award by the American Advertising Federation - Suncoast at their recent meeting. The award, presented by AAF-Suncoast president Alice Fernandez, is given to an outstanding member of the local advertising community.“It’s an honor to be [...]

Just Sold - Sunset Beach Condo

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:53:01 -0400

We just sold this beautiful beach front condo in Sunset Beach Longboat Key yesterday. It closed for $659,000. Longboat Key CondosLooking for a "wow" water and beach view? This fabulous top floor unit offers spectacular full gulf, sunset and beach views from every room.

International Real Estate Purchasing Guidelines - Roberta Burish - Transnational Referral Certified Agent

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:40:20 -0400

Purchasing international real estate is becoming more alluring to investors & vacationers world wide.Pragmatcally speaking, it is a way to diversify an investment portfolio and/or to provide rental income.

Parasail over Siesta Key

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:15:13 -0400

We had company this past weekend from California that wanted to experience parasailing. I can now say that I have tried it and LOVED it! What a fun way to spend the afternoon. We called ahead and made a reservation with Siesta Key Parasailing (941-586-1972).

Local NRT Executive Among 115 In U.S. To Earn Designation

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:03:03 -0400

Glenda Philpot Receives SGMS Designation. NRT Southeast LLC, Coldwell Banker’s Parent Company, announced that Glenda Philpot, Regional Vice President of Relocation, recently earned the SGMS (Senior Global Mobility Specialist) designation from WERC (Worldwide Employee Relocation Council). According to Philpot, who is located in the region’s Sarasota headquarter office, “I would recommend this program to any relocation professional who [...]

Legal Firm Icard, Merrill And 17 Members Receive Accolades

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:36:44 -0400

Icard, Merrill, Et Al Awarded Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award.The law firm of Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg, PA., was named the 2010 recipient of the Outstanding Pro bono Service by a law Firm in Sarasota County Award. This esteemed award was given in recognition for the organization’s outstanding dedication to pro bono efforts [...]

Area Cracker Barrel Stores Focus On “Pleasing People”

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 10:30:37 -0400

Cracker Barrel Breakfast Best In 2010 Zagat Consumer Survey.Head to one of the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® locations in the Sarasota area for the best breakfast available at a full-service chain restaurant, according to the prestigious Zagat survey released recently. Over 6,500 regular chain restaurant diners shared their opinions on 39 full-service restaurants in the [...]

“Oasis by the Sea”, 612 S Casey Key, Featured on “The Showcase of Homes” in Sarasota, Florida

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:29:08 -0400

The Showcase of Homes //Deborah Beacham //612 S. Casey Key Road from Ryan Bodie Films on Vimeo.

Villa Toscana, 1416 Casey Key Road, Featured on The Showcase of Homes with Deborah Beacham

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:47:09 -0400

The Showcase of Homes //Deborah Beacham //Villa Toscana from Ryan Bodie Films on Vimeo.

Cutting Loose Salon Enhances Services

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 10:00:32 -0400

Pamper Lounge Added To Cutting Loose Salon.Since 2007 Cutting Loose Salon has catered to the area’s chic and sophisticated. Now the salon is reinventing itself to better serve guests while immersing them in luxury by offering new Pamper Lounge spa services.Private rooms in the back of Cutting Loose are now home to the Pamper Lounge. [...]

Why I Bought a Downtown Sarasota Condo

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:34:09 -0400

I asked a client of mine to write about why he chose to purchase a downtown Sarasota condo. He was nice enough to write the following:Downtown Sarasota: Sophisticated, Urban and ManageableOn June 30 we closed on our new home in downtown Sarasota

July Existing-Home Sales Fall, But Prices Rise

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:04:03 -0400

July Existing-Home Sales Fall, But Prices Rise

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:07:31 -0400

Existing-home sales were sharply lower in July following expiration of the home buyer tax credit but home prices continued to gain, according to the National Association of EALTORS® www.realtor.org, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops, dropped 27.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.83 million units in July from a downwardly revised 5.26 million in June, and are 25.5 percent below the 5.14 million-unit level in July 2009. Sales are at the lowest level since the total existing-home sales series launched in 1999, and single family sales – accounting for the bulk of transactions – are at the lowest level since May of 1995.www.realtor.org/research/chief_economist Lawrence Yun,NAR chief economist, said a soft sales pace likely will continue for a few additional months. “Consumers rationally jumped into the market before the deadline for the home buyer tax credit expired. Since May, after the deadline, contract signings have been notably lower and a pause period for home sales is likely to last through September,” he said. “However, given the rock-bottom mortgage interest rates and historically high housing affordability conditions, the pace of a sales recovery could pick up quickly, provided the economy consistently adds jobs.“Even with sales pausing for a few months, annual sales are expected to reach 5 million in 2010 because of healthy activity in the first half of the year. To place in perspective, annual sales averaged 4.9 million in the past 20 years, and 4.4 million over the past 30 years,” Yun added.Mortgage Rates Dip According to Freddie Mac, the www.freddiemac.com/pmms national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage fell to a record low 4.56 percent in July from 4.74 percent in June; the rate was 5.22 percent in July 2009. Last week, Freddie Mac reported the 30-year fixed was down to 4.42 percent.The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $182,600 in July, up 0.7 percent from a year ago. Distressed home sales are unchanged from June, accounting for 32 percent of transactions in July; they were 31 percent in July 2009.“Thanks to the home buyer tax credit, home values have been stable for the past 18 months despite heavy job losses,” Yun said. “Over the short term, high supply in relation to demand clearly favors buyers. However, given that home values are back in line relative to income, and from very low new-home construction, there is not likely to be any measurable change in home prices going forward.Inventory Rises Total housing inventory at the end of July increased 2.5 percent to 3.98 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 12.5-month supply at the current sales pace, up from an 8.9-month supply in June. Raw unsold inventory is still 12.9 percent below the record of 4.58 million in July 2008.NAR President Vicki Cox Golder said there are great opportunities now for buyers who weren’t able to take advantage of the tax credit. “Mortgage interest rates are at record lows, home prices have firmed and there is good selection of property in most areas, so buyers with good jobs and favorable credit ratings find themselves in a fortunate position,” she said. A parallel NAR practitioner survey shows first-time buyers purchased 38 percent of homes in July, down from 43 percent in June. Investors accounted for 19 percent of sales in July, up from 13 percent in June; the balance were to repeat buyers. All-cash sales rose to 30 percent in July from 24 percent in June. Breakdown of the NumbersSingle-family home sales dropped 27.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.37 million in July from a pace of 4.62 million in June, and are 25.6 percent below the 4.53 million level in July 2009; they were the lowest since May 1995 when the sales rate was 3.34 million. The median existing single-family home price was $183,400 in July, which is 0.9 percent above a year ago.Single-family median existing-home prices were higher in 11 out of 19 metropolitan statistical areas reported in July in comparison with July 2009 (the price in one of 20 tracked markets was not available). However, existing single-family home sales fell in all 20 areas from a year ago.Existing condominium and co-op sales fell 28.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 460,000 in July from 640,000 in June, and are 24.0 percent below the 605,000-unit level in July 2009. The median existing condo price was $176,800 in July, down 1.7 percent from a year ago.Existing-home sales in the Northeast dropped 29.5 percent to an annual pace of 620,000 in July and are 30.3 percent lower than a year ago. The median price in the Northeast was $263,800, up 4.8 percent from July 2009.Existing-home sales in the Midwest fell 35.0 percent in July to a level of 800,000 and are 33.3 percent below July 2009. The median price in the Midwest was $151,600, down 2.8 percent from a year ago.In the South, existing-home sales dropped 22.6 percent to an annual pace of 1.54 million in July and are 19.8 percent below a year ago. The median price in the South was $156,300, down 3.3 percent from July 2009.Existing-home sales in the West fell 25.0 percent to an annual level of 870,000 in July and are 23.0 percent below a year ago. The median price in the West was $224,800, up 3.3 percent from July 2009. Source: NARFor information about the Sarasota Real Estate Market, visit PremiumPropertiesSarasotaFor information about the Sarasota Real Estate Market, visit PremiumPropertiesSarasota.com