Are you on your way here?

Because lots of people will be here this weekend! I have several showings this weekend, it seems that many buyers maybe waited until school is back in session.
It should be a great weekend weather wise!
Here are my news: I have started to write a Real Estate Blog in German because I am German and the Euro is stong; this is a great time for Europeans to invest in Real Estate here. I was amazed by the response and how quickly my blog was linked to German Real Estate sites. If you can understand German, check it out:
http://immofl.blog.de/

These are all homes that have come on the market since my last blog:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070830140852014778000000&s=6&id=1">Click

These are all homes that have sold:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070830141036069779000000&s=6&id=1">Click

These properties have gone under contract:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070830141209227640000000&s=6&id=1">Click

If you are heading down here this weekend, drive carefully!

Auctions

I went to a seminar about Real Estate Auctions yesterday. Auctions seem to be getting more popular ergo I should know more about them.
This is the information I took away: Auctions are only a good idea for sellers that are truly ready to sell and are willing to sell at Market Value (Market Value, not 'But last year I could have gotten ... Value'). There are absolute auctions which means that there is no reserve and the property will be sold to the highest bidder no matter how low that highest bid is. That can be risky for the seller but it generates more potential interested buyers. The more bidders there are, the higher the final price will be (Most likely!).
There are also auctions at which owners can set a minimum price and will not have to sell, but CAN if they so chose to after the auction, below that price. Bidders do not know prior to bidding what that minimum price is. This generates less potential bidders but a safety net for the seller to not have to sell at a too low price.
Do I think Auctions are the way to go? Tobe honest: I have not made up my mind. It seems that it might be something to consider if a property has not been able to sell for a while and the owners are anxious to sell. At an auction the buyer pays the (usually) 6% fee to the auctioneer; the seller does not pay a commission. The seller pays advertising cost and other fees to the Auctioneer which run between 0,5 to 1% of the property value.
To consider: If the property does not sell at auction the owner is out the money he paid to the Auction company.
If you list a property and the property does not sell, the Realtor gets nothing and the owner pays nothing. But this is not a 'competition' between Listing a property or having an auction. It is another venue in a challenging Real Estate Market and I am the last to not give something new a fair shot.
If you are thinking about having an Auction or attending auctions, give me a call and I will give you more information and refer a company I trust and have worked with for many years.

Here the regular info:
Properties that have come on the market since my last post:
http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070821152835521738000000&s=6&id=1

Properties that have sold since my last post:
http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070821153039458468000000&s=6&id=1

and properties that have gone under contract:
http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070821153153039314000000&s=6&id=1

Thanks for reading my post and have a great week!

Let's see what happens now

The stock market isn't doing too well ..... that's usually good news for the Real Estate market ... Let's wait and see.
I have just returned from a few days in NY state (I hope you New Yorkers appreciate how beautiful your State is!); I am always amazed how friendly and helpfull New Yorkers are (Except the receptionist at the Hampton Inn in Oneonta).

Maybe this past weekend is an indication of what is to come; more, than usual, properties have gone under contract: Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070813165832618296000000&s=6&id=1">Click

These are the properties that have come on the markets since August,1st:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070813170031194250000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and these properties have sold:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070813170440631271000000&s=6&id=1">Click

One more week and the kids are back to school! If you have kids or grand kids; enjoy this last week!

Thanks for reading my blog!

Some good Deals

Mini Lobster Season was here and so were many people! The roads were empty, everybody was out on the water ....except me , I was working!
Maybe you were here over Lobster Season, picked up one of the Real Estate puplications where you sad my Blog advertized: Here it is!

The following listings are all located from MM74 to MM110 (which is considered the upper Keys)
Maybe you are looking for a deal!
Here are some good Deals in condos currently listed under 500K: http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070725171306123886000000&s=6&id=1

If you are looking for a home under 400K; there are many available:
www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070726160404816849000000&s=6&id=1

You can pick up a canal front now for under 800K:
http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070726160651311670000000&s=6&id=1

These are all open water homes under 2 Million:
http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070726161549462641000000&s=6&id=1">



And for my usual readers: These are all new listings since my last blog:
http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070726161944814245000000&s=6&id=1

These listings have sold:
http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070728133120976731000000&s=6&id=1

and these properties have gonde under contract:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070728133349270858000000&s=6&id=1">Click

I hope you are well and if you were here; I hope you all are enjoying lobster now!

Too many homes on the market!

Every day I check the new listings and everyday I am somewhat annoyed to see that there are yet 4-10 more listings each and every day priced exactly the same as all similar listings in the area that are NOT selling for that asking price! There is nothing special about the new listing that would make it stand out and sell while others listings are not selling. It's just ANOTHER home on the market; another home that is flooding the market and won't sell.
I am not saying to not put your home on the market right now, I am saying to not put your house on the market if you don't have to sell and if you are not willing to be lower in price than all other comparable properties listed. If you are not willing to price your home competitively, don't list it because it won't sell and just sit on the market. Something that is not good for any listing. The bottom line is that the few buyers that are out there know that it is a buyers market. They are expecting to get a deal and right now they can because there are so many properties available. A buyer will shop the lowest price among several listings and if a house is not well priced to begin with ; there is the likeness that a potential buyer won't even look at it.
Great time to buy! Absolutely! Not so good time to sell!
If you are a seller and just out 'fishing' to see if you would get any bites at a certain price: Please don't! We have way too much supply and little demand; in order to make this market turn and become a sellers market again, we must reduce the supply!
That's my opinion; I let your common sense decide if you agree or not.
A little example: Three month ago I spoke to an owner who wanted to list her house. I suggested a listing price below 1,1 Million. The last house I sold in the neighborhood was in much better condition than this house and sold for 1,03 Million. It sold two months ago! The owner chose to list with another agent for 1,39 Million! I will keep you up to date and tell you how long this homes will sit and sit and sit on the market and I will let you when and if it sells and how many different agents will have had it listed by that time.
I won't tell you which property it is of course.

So, what new homes ARE on the market since my last blog:
http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070712180153864916000000&s=6&id=1

these properties have sold:
http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070712180328664349000000&s=6&id=1

and these properties have gone under contract:
http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070712180534387727000000&s=6&id=1

Thanks for reading my blog and have a great day! Oh and please if you want to sell your property , please call me so I can give you a realistic idea for how much you can put your property on the market and actually sell it! A good realtor is NOT somebody who tells you what you want to hear just in order to get a listing! The value of a home is what somebody is willing to pay for it in the current market.

Ocean View

I am sitting at my desk overlooking the Ocean with a bottle of cold water, quiet jazzy music in the backround with happy people walking by because they are on vacation. I am a hard worker!
Seriously, I just love my new office and the atmosphere; please make sure to stop by and see me if you are in the area!

4th of July is on its way; it will be busy here as always;I hope you are having plans and will enjoy yourself.

On to business; here are the new listings:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070702180816662347000000&s=6&id=1">Click

These properties have sold since the 26th. of June:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070702181133245100000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and these properties have gone under contract:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070702181306336839000000&s=6&id=1">Click

That's it for today. Enjoy plenty of Hot Dogs and Burgers on the 4th; they have no calories that day!

Summer is here

Holy cow; I love it here, but it is hot right now! The upside is that the water is just stunning in the summer. That's why I really should not work at all and just be out on the water at all times ... Nah, I'd go crazy without working.

Check out what new listings we have:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070627000752554436000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and this is what has sold since my last post:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070627000915830405000000&s=6&id=1">Click

these properties have gone under contract:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070627001029936307000000&s=6&id=1">Click

I have three price reductions on three listings; both of them are a great buy at the new price:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070627001211682587000000&s=6&id=1">Click

If you are a buyer this is a good time to make some offers. 'Season' is over and some sellers are highly motivated because they were hoping that their property would sell during season.

I hope you are well and thank you for reading my blog!

I DO have an excuse

for the lack of posts lately: I actually went on a little short vacation; flew to NY drove to Boston and Cape Cod and spent half of the time on the phone saving a deal. Yes, the deal went through and I congratulate Ray and Daniela on the ownership of their beautiful new home:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070615202958054667000000&s=6&id=1">Click
It is so enjoyable to sell Real Estate in the Keys: Buyers are excited and happy, usually fulfilling a long time dream of owning property here and the 'kind' of person who enjoys the Keys is usually a laid back type with a strong sense of joi de vivre.

These are the properties that have sold from MM74 to MM110 since my last blog:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070615203633238589000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and here are the new listings:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070615204629845082000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and these listings have gone under contract: Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070615204953203015000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Have a great weekend and please let me know when you are ready to purchase your piece of paradise!

Great Deal!

Hello everybody,
if you are a mom I hope you had a pleasant Mothers day! I was lucky and had showings on Friday, Saturday and Monday but not Monday which allowed me to go to Cheeca to the Brunch with my son and my 'adopted' mom.

Are you looking for a deal? Here it is:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070515001953242798000000&s=6&id=1">Click
And this is not my listing so I am not just trying to sell off something from my inventory.

and here is another one:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070515002631530862000000&s=6&id=1">Click
This one is my listing but it truly is a great deal and more than 100K less than the next listing in the complex.

These are the properties that have sold since my last post:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070515002230518110000000&s=6&id=1">Click

The properties that have gone under contract:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070515002342846053000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and these are new properties that have come on the market:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070515002458849992000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Please keep me in mind if you are looking to sell your property or have friends that are looking to purchase something in the Keys.
And thanks for reading my blog!

It's been a while

and I apologize for that!
It's been a busy time getting settled in the new office and working with new customers. I just love my new office! How lucky I am to get to work at a beautiful place like Cheeca. I can see the Ocean from my desk! This is the first time ever that I wish that I could spend more time at the office. Most of my time is occupied being out showing property of course and that is a good thing.
Please call me and tell me if you'd like to come and see my new office; I'll make sure that I am there and I will show you around!

If you have been reading this blog regularly, here is what you really want to know: This is what has sold since my last blog:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070508235555220284000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and these properties have gone under contract:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070509000442840571000000&s=6&id=1">Click

and these are the new listings:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070509000626915055000000&s=6&id=1">Click

Please let me know if I can help you or answer any questions you might have regarding Real Estate and thanks for reading my blog!

I have moved to Cheeca Realty

Hello everybody,
I am no longer with Century21 and I am now with Cheeca Realty and am looking forward to serving you with the same professionalism and commitment that you are accustomed to from me.

As you all know I was with my former company for ten years and I am leaving on good terms with everybody there. I would not have made a move if I did not feel that this move is of great advantage to my customers.
Cheeca Realty is a full service Real Estate company that is affiliated with the Cheeca Lodge & Spa and Watermark Properties whose main office is in Vero Beach, Florida. The office is located at the Cheeca with an additional location in Islamorada to be announced soon . For over sixty years the Cheeca has been a well-established , trusted name in the local community and I feel privileged to have been invited to join the company and be involved from the very beginning.

Cheeca Realty is a boutique Real Estate Company with many services that go above and beyond the regular services you expect from your Realtor. From high-end brochures to a great web presence and advertising in all local Real Estate publications and a corporate Helicopter to show property, Cheeca Realty will also provide all guests in their room at Cheeca with information about the Real Estate office located in the heart of Islamorada.

I am looking forward to continue working with you and would love to show you my new office when you are in town.

My phone number remains the same: 305-393-0923 and my website will remain the same as well: www.Veepka.com

If you know of anybody who is interested in purchasing Real Estate in the Keys or wants to sell their property please pass my name, number or e-mail on to them. I am ready to get to work!

It's been a while

I apologize for not having written for a while; soon I'll tell you what is keeping me busy these days. The good part about not having written in a while, there are a lot properties that sold since my last blog; here they are:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070402154720920919000000&s=7&id=1">Click

and these are all new listings that have come on the market since my last blog:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070402155503144860000000&s=7&id=1">Click

All these properties have gone under contract:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070402155636252086000000&s=7&id=1">Click

and all the new listings that have come on the market:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070402155804287118000000&s=7&id=1">Click

Let me know if you'd like any information on any of these properties and I hope you are all having a good start into the new week.

Good deals!

Maybe you are a buyer and are looking for a good deal/good value. These are the best values in condos in my opinion currently on the market:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070312233631299797000000&s=7&id=1">Click

In my next blog I will give you the best values for homes.

These are all listings that have come on the market since my last blog:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070312234116478649000000&s=7&id=1">Click

and these are all properties that have sold since my last entry:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070312234231145452000000&s=7&id=1">Click

all properties that have gone under contract:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070312234325270055000000&s=7&id=1">Click

Don't wait if you are in the market to buy! Please call me if I can assist you in any way in your Real Estate needs and as always: Thanks for reading my blog!

March, 5th and the sun is shining

This is THE best time of the year to be here; you can keep the windows open at night and not run the AC, and during the day it warms up and is perfect pool or boating weather.
It is also busy in Real Estate which makes this an even better time for me.

Lok at all the closings since my last blog:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070306125135929366000000&s=7&id=1">Click

and all the pendings:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070306125637588756000000&s=7&id=1">Click

and all new listings:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070306125801119994000000&s=7&id=1">Click

Please check out my new listing in Executive Bay Club. This is the nicest unit I have ever seen in EBC. It is true Island living in style:
Click'>http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?20070306130009050531000000&s=7&id=1">Click

Buy now! It's the right time!
If not, have a great week anyway!

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!