Offers, Deals and Foreclosures

Hello everybody,
It's been very busy, I've been showing properties, writing offers, getting listings ... the usual in a normal market in Real Estate. The weather is absolutely beautiful but I have not been able to enjoy it much. But that's good, I am happy! I love my work and am happiest when I am busy. (Other than spending time with my son of course).
Something a bit new down here: We are seeing a few foreclosures. That was bound to happen with the many creative ways of financing available in the last few years when the market was so hot. There are still far less foreclosures than in most other areas.

These are the properties that have closed:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070223001727769002000000&s=7&id=1">Click

and these properties have gone under contract:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070223001851102159000000&s=7&id=1">Click

and these are the new listings:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070223001953569087000000&s=7&id=1">Click

Please contact me if you are wanting to find out more about foreclosures or any other happenings in the Real Estate market.
Until next time ... thanks for reading my blog!

The sun is shining here!

I don't know if it is the cold weather up north or simply that season is in full swing now or the fact that Monday was my Birthday but it is as if somebody turned a knob on Monday and got the Real Estate market going. I have received more e-mails, phone calls and written more offers than in the past few months combined!

These are all properties that have closed since my last blog:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070215004926390835000000&s=7&id=1">Click

and look at everything that has gone under contract:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070215005051972223000000&s=7&id=1">Click

and all new listings:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070215005209164649000000&s=7&id=1">Click

If you are heading down to the Keys anytime soon and would like to see some property please call me and I will gladly show you around!

New listings, pending and solds - lots of them

I apologize for having been a little slow posting on here, but it is getting busier and so am I.

So here are all the new listing since my last post:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070209005049220748000000&s=7&id=1">Click

Look at all the pendings:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070209005631642207000000&s=7&id=1">Click

and here are all the properties that have closed:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070209005740856328000000&s=7&id=1">Click

I promise that my next post will be longer and sooner; until then I wish you all a great weekend!

The pleasure of working in Real Estate in the Keys

One of the reasons why it is so enjoyable to sell Real Estate in the Keys; are the buyers! Most buyers in the Keys are buying property as a vacation home or an investement or if they move here full time they are fullfilling a life long dream. That means that they are happy people and excited about their purchase. I put a property under contract today with some buyers I have worked for over year with; they had been waiting for the right time and the right price and this was it! I like it very much when I get paid at the end of a deal but it is also a great feeling when I can tell buyers "Congratulations; they took your offer!" and I can hear or see how happy and excited they are!

These are the new listings since my last post:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070203011204449912000000&s=7&id=1">Click

and these are the properties that have gone under contract:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070203011342278955000000&s=7&id=1">Click

and these properties have closed:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070203011450876201000000&s=7&id=1">Click

Now let me help you find a deal! Have a great weekend!

Look at the price changes!

Hello everybody! It's cold! But that's a nice change sometimes here in the Keys!
Look at the price changes that were entered only for today in the MLS:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070130005538333420000000&s=6&id=1">Click

These are all properties that have come on the market since my last post:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070130010040188302000000&s=6&id=1">Click

This property has closed:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070130010228443019000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Now I will have to try and stay warm and do a little more work; I wish you all a great week!

This is the time for a good deal!

Buyers are here and buyers know that it is a Buyers market! I have told you several that we have a flooded market and buyers are now making offers letting the sellers know that they are 'shopping' for the lowest price. Even though we do not have a lot of sellers in distress, some sellers are willing to take a considerably lower price (sometimes because they want to buy something somewhere else and can get a good deal somewhere else right now) and sometimes because they bought their place a few years back and are still making a considerable profit and are just ready to move on. Whatever their reason is, buyers are in a great position to purchase right now.

In the past couple of days many sellers have lowered their asking price; I am assuming that the reason for that is that it is season and sellers are trying to have the most marketable price in order to sell in this season.
These are two great deals:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070127013659496949000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Please call me if you'd like any more info on these 'deals' .

These are the new listings since my last post:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070127013858154684000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and these are the properties that have sold:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070127014045615115000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and these properties have gone under contract:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070127014219099478000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Please call me if you'd like to see any of these properties or if you'd like further info.
Have a great weekend and stay warm!

A busy weekend

Hello everybody,
I had a busy weekend, showing property and even writing an offer but we could not come to a meeting of the minds unfortunately.

I will keep this blog short but I know that some of you check on the new listing, so here they are:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070123005721583331000000&s=6&id=1">Click

These are the properties that have gone under contract:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070123005959503810000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and these properties have closed:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070123010133847367000000&s=6&id=1">Click

I hope you had a great weekend!

Nice news for me!

We received 'the numbers' for 2006 and I was the second top producer in our Islamorada office and am amongst the top 10% of all Realtors in the entire Keys. I am telling you this to let you know that I am a full time professional with results and not just a blog and a website.
I have to be honest though and admit that I am looking forward to a busier year than last; it was slower than usual for everybody, that's for sure.

Quite a few new listings as usual:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070118004707707852000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and three closed:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070118005334198765000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Please continue to check my blog; I will continue to keep you up to date!

A long weekend

and the Keys are a busy place with many visitors this weekend; the weather was perfect. I showed property every day in the past three days and am anticipating a busy week.

Many new listings have come on the market:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070115002512567235000000&s=6&id=1">Click

These properties have gone under contract:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070115002833427063000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and these properties have sold:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070115002957762598000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Please excuse that this is a shorter post but I have been busy as I mentioned above.
I hope to see you soon in the Keys; this is such a perfect time to visit weatherwise!

The house to buy!

Many customers of mine ask me to tell them when there is a good deal. There is a great deal out there right now and if you are looking for a waterfront home in a great neighborhood you should really take a look at this one:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070109235256055283000000&s=6&id=1">Click

The house has been on the market for a while but the owners just reduced the price by 400K!

These are all new listings that have come on the market since my past post:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070110001331093483000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and these listings have closed:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070110001513118368000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and these are the properties that have gone under contract:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070110001611147766000000&s=6&id=1">Click

As you can see more properties are selling and going under contract ... season is beginning.

Please let me assist you if you are ready to make a purchase in the Florida Keys. I'd love too help you!

What's new

Hello everybody. Another beautiful day in the Keys today, the weather could not have been better. There is more activity in general in the Keys, US 1 is the busy road it always is from January through May. A friend of mine just remarked how everybody here seems to go the speed limit (she is from New York); I think hardly anybody is in a rush once you see the water and it does its calming effect it just does on people.

Get ready for a lot of new listings since my last post:
"Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070108002145755565000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and these properties have closed since the 2nd of January:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070108002329248934000000&s=6&id=1">Click

these properties have gone under contract:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070108002449144979000000&s=6&id=1">Click

I have had a lot of phone calls in the past few days, mostly from snow birds who are back and are now ready to purchase something.

Today I showed a beautiful home in Buccaneer Pointe. It is just gorgeous but one would expect that from a 3,25 Million Dollar home. In case you are wondering what 3,25 Million gets you:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070108002817557388000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Now I am off to working a bit more and wish you all a great new week!

Good Deals!

Happy New Year everybody! I hope you got a good start and have been able to stick to your new years resolutions thus far.

I will start this blog with the updates and after that I will provide you with some links to some good deals right now.These are all new listings since my last post:
Click'>Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070103004242642639000000&s=6&id=1">Click

These properties have closed:
Click'>Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070103004821718658000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Nothing has been entered as having gone under contract in the past couple of days.

I know that I keep on telling you that prices remain stable in the Keys because we do not have a lot of distress sales. Sellers hold on to their properties before selling it for a low price because they are confident that they will be able to get their price in time.However there are some properties that are truly priced to sell. Sometimes a seller wants to buy something somewhere else and needs the funds to purchase another property; in that case a seller is more motivated to sell his/her property.We do have a flooded market right now and if a seller needs to sell quickly pricing is essential.

These are some properties that I consider to be a good deal. These are not necessarily my listings but properties listed in the MLS:

This is a home in Venetian Shores. Venetian Shores is considered to be one if not the most prestigious residential neighborhoods in Islamorada. Venetian Shores is located on the Bay side right by Snake Creek Bridge. The canals are deep and can accommodate a boat up to 60 feet. The only other neighborhood that can accommodate boats of that size is Port Largo. Ocean access could not be any closer via Snake Creek Bridge. This is a link to the listing:Click'>Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070103010002788695000000&s=6&id=1">Click

This is a condo in Mariners Club located in Key Largo on the Ocean side:
Click'>Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070103010720403363000000&s=6&id=1">Click
Mariners Club is for the discriminating buyer; everything is upscale in this fairly new complex.This unit is approx. 1700 Square Feet and has a fabulous ocean view. Take a look at the pictures you'll be impressed! Mariners Club has on site rental management and the units generate a great rental income. Daily rentals are permitted which make this a good investment purchase.

If you are looking for something lower in price, this is a 2-bedroom/2 baths condo in the Landings of Largo for 340K. The Landings is a beautiful complex at MM98 on the Bay. There is a great marina; two tennis courts, two pools and the grounds are in the process of being entirely redone. This would be a great property to get your foot in the door or to have a little getaway place:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070103012406937116000000&s=6&id=1">Click

I will tell you about more deals in the next blogs. If you have any questions regarding any of these properties please don't hesitate to call me.I hope this will be a good year for all of us!

You get what you pay for

There was a steady stream of cars on US1 all day long today; many of the snowbirds seem to have arrived along with quite a few 'weekenders' to ring in the New Year.I have been busy over the past few days and I have heard from other realtors that they were busy as well.Again there are quiet a few new listings:
Click'>Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061230235538745509000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Three properties have been sold in the last three days:
Click'>Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061231000206207608000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and six properties have gone under contract:
Click'>Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061231000434864975000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Today I attempted to acquire information about two different properties; both properties priced well above a Million; so far I have not received a return call after I left voice mails with both listing agents for these properties. Both properties are with Real Estate companies I have never heard off; neither one of them located in the Keys.
I am sure you have heard of the new Internet based Real Estate companies. They are companies that are members of the Board of Realtors and can therefore enter a listing in the MLS (Multiple listing service). Many times these companies offer to list a home for a lower commission rate than the local Real Estate offices do.
Money is a driving factor in every business but it does not matter how much you theoretically save if your home does not sell or sells for less than you might have been able to sell your home for if there would have been better marketing.
You can guess how likely it is that a house will sell if it impossible to get in touch with the listing agent.Please make sure to check how your property will be marketed and how available your agent is to show the house or provide other agents with information. These should be the factors in your decision with whom to list your home and not which company charges you the least.

I wish you all a great last day of 2006 and cross your fingers for me that I get a call back tomorrow

Season is around the corner

I hope you all had a merry Christmas and are ready to ring in 2007 in just a few days.
January 1st marks the beginning of the season and as every year there are many new listings coming on the market right now.
These are the listings that have come on the market since my last post:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061228001641659133000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Only one listing has sold since then but keep in mind that nothing closes on a Holiday. The listing that closed is a house in Venetian Shores:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061228002144099968000000&s=6&id=1">Click


Tomorrow I have a showing on one of my listing and I continue to see increased activity in the Real Estate market.

I hear from quite a few buyers lately that they want to wait and see 'what the market is doing'. There have been so many areas in the US where Real Estate prices have dropped in the past year. Not in the Keys! Yes, there have been less sales but actual sales prices have not dropped. It is really impossible to compare the Keys to any other Real Estate market in the US even in Florida. We all know the favorite three words of a Realtor 'Location, location, location' but it's true! This is the single most aspect to consider if you are making an investment and are concerned about the value in the future. This will always be a desirable vacation area with the only Coral Reef in the US.
We have a buyers market for the first time in years in the Keys; that means that the market is favorable for buyers!

Don't forget: If you have investment property in another state and want to purchase something in the Keys with a 1031 Tax exchange you don't have to sell the other property first! You can do a reverse 1031 exchange. If you want to find out more about that option please give me a call.

As usual: Thank you for reading my blog!

Properties are selling

It's been a few days, I promise I will write on a daily basis again soon. You all know that this is a busy season.

I'd like to put a notice out that I have a buyer who is looking to find another buyer who wants to purchase a condo with him. This buyer is interested in a condo for 340K; that means that each partner would have to pay about 170K. This is a great investment opportunity for less than 200.


A few properties have closed since my past post:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061219001159000357000000&s=6&id=1">Click

There is a little bit of everything among these closed properties: Vacant land, condo and homes.

More properties have gone under contract as well:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061219001743626090000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and of course more properties have come on the market:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061219001931097324000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Manatee sighting

While I was showing property at the Landings of Largo today we saw a huge Manatee in the Marina. Even though I have lived in Florida for 15 years now I am still amazed that I live somewhere where I can see Pelicans, Hawks and Manatees on an almost daily basis. How cool!

New properties came on the market today:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061214233049532491000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Three properties closed today:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061214234353758487000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and two properties went under contract:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061214234545601759000000&s=6&id=1">Click


Please keep me in mind if you are considering a purchase in the Keys; this is such a good time to get your foot into the Real Estate market here. It's a buyers market and that's when you want to buy!
Please don't hesitate to call me to look at property even if you are not ready to buy right now and just would like to see what's out there. I am always glad to help you get educated about the Real Estate market here, so you will feel confident once you are ready to buy.

Overcoming a cold (Yes, even we in the Keys get colds once in a while)

Please excuse that I have not written for a few days; I was sick with a cold. Fortunately I got better just in time to go to a Christmas party by my friends Marcelle and Jean Michael tonight.

There are a few new listings since my last post; these are properties that have come on the market since the 8th (My last post):
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061213122751445605000000&s=6&id=1">Click

These properties have gone under contract:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061213123032301130000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Again, one of the properties is a waterfront property under one Million; the other three are dry lot homes under 400K. I have noticed that dry lot homes under 400K are selling lately. I believe the reason for that is that it was hard to find anything other than a mobile home under for 400K up until last year. Residents with a lower budget might see their opportunity to afford property and are probably the buyers of these properties.

These properties have sold:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061213141338802119000000&s=6&id=1">Click

I am going to keep this post short; I am not a 100% yet, but please if you have any questions or need any info, don't hesitate to call me anytime!

The weekend is here

Today I showed a listing I have in Tamarind Bay. Every time I go to Tamarind Bay I realize what a nice complex it is. Every unit in TBC is 1400 SF and has a bay view. The grounds are immaculately kept and a lot of people like it for its location at MM 103, less than an hour drive from the Miami airport. All units are on one floor, which makes the view more panoramic than in a townhouse. There are two pools on the property, one heated and one not, two tennis courts, space to park your boat trailer, a boat ramp, a sunset pier with a Gazebo at the end and a beautiful outdoor barbecuing area.
The boat dockage situation is rather unique: Boat slips are assigned for the length of ownership; once a unit with an assigned boat slip is sold, the boat slips reverts back to the association which will then assign it to the next person on the waiting list for a boat slip.
However even if you don’t have a boat slip, the association manager will try to accommodate you and find you a space not currently used by the owner to accommodate your boat.

This is the listing I currently have in TBC:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061209012023062677000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Nothing remains to be done in this unit. Everything has been remodeled!


Only two listings came on the market today:
http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061209012133377796000000&s=6&id=1">Click

One condo closed today:
http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061209012240043958000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and two properties went under contract today:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061209012412491583000000&s=6&id=1">Click


While showing my listing today I was envious of the beautiful Christmas decoration and how ‘christmassy’ the place felt. Tomorrow I am getting my tree and I hope you all are getting in the Christmas spirit as well if that is the holiday you are celebrating.

New listing in Seagulls

Today I listed a new condo in Seagulls. Seagulls is a complex located right on the Ocean at MM90. Weekly rentals are permitted at Seagulls, which makes this unit a good investment property. There is a Pool, a tennis court, clubhouse, on site manager and the most spectacular feature at Seagulls is the beautiful beach. (A rarity in the Keys). The unit I listed is a one bedroom, one bath condo and the lowest priced listing in Seagulls at 365K.
This is a link to the property:
Click'>Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061208003820970597000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Three other properties came on the market today:
Click'>Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061208003952616475000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Two properties went under contract today:
Click'>Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061208004046992440000000&s=6&id=1">Click
There are now almost every day properties going under contract.

Should you be in the Keys this weekend; there is a wonderful Christmas play at the High School Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening at 7pm. It is free and is put on by the Baptist Church.Even if you are not a churchgoer; I can only urge you to go and see the play. I saw it last year and it was incredible! Bring the kids; they'll like it as well.

Please take a moment to check out my new listing and if you know of anybody or are interested yourself; I'd love to give you a tour of Seagulls.

Bunco Wednesday

I had a busy day today showing property. It was perfect weather to be outside and I was lucky again and am working with a very pleasant buyer. We looked at commercial property (shopping centers) of which there aren't many. As I mentioned in a previous post commercial property is continuing to appreciate well in the Keys.

Quite a few properties went under contract in the past couple of days:
Click'>Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061206234914331435000000&s=6&id=1">Click
This goes to show that there is a definite increase in activity in the Real Estate market.

These are the properties that have come on the market over the past couple of days:
Click'>Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061207023724935136000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and three properties closed:Click'>Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20061207023914759248000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Please excuse that this is a shorter post. Every first Wednesday of the month I host a 'Bunco Party' at my house. Tonight was the night but I am aware that I have some faithful readers who read my blog and I wanted to keep you up to date.Today was Nikolaus in Germany and even though you might not be familiar with the Holiday; I wish you a 'happy Nikolaus'.