Harbour Walk: Paradise Found!

Since the beginning of time, the opportunity to live at the water’s edge has appealed to man’s sense of both adventure and tranquility. At Harbour Walk, you’ll be swept away by the lush landscapes and picturesque scenery, which have been carefully designed to take full advantage of the water. There is also a waterfront park, which features jogging trails, tennis courts, kayaking, a playground and fishing piers.

The developers of Harbour Walk know what it takes to make a good first impression–and make it last. Harbour Walk’s scenic beauty is framed by hundred year old oaks and pines. Gracious homes meticulously cared for, with backyards containing deepwater docks for your boating pleasure contain schools of jumping fish and stately herons.

You soon discover there is more. A deed restricted community of like-minded neighbors all sharing the boating lifestyle. A sense of privacy and serenity, like Florida used to be. A fabulous location, equally convenient to the historical districts of Bradenton, the cultural charm of Sarasota and the excitement of Tampa/St. Petersburg.

Sporting venues for football (Buccaneers) baseball (Rays) and hockey (Lightning) are a short drive away. Walt Disney World, Epcot Center and Busch Gardens are also nearby. A multitude of golf courses, performing arts venues, and dining by land or sea are just minutes away.

While the amenities are plentiful, it’s the waterfront lifestyle, stunning sunsets, private deepwater docks and access to the Gulf of Mexico that sets Harbour Walk apart from the rest.

Paradise found? Indeed.

For more information, contact Roberta Burish at 941-704-4223 or via email at rburish@kw.com.

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Harbour Walk – Did You Know???

• Outstanding Private Community by the Florida Planning and Zoning Association.
• Top 25 Communities in United States by the American Association of Architects.
• The Inlets has been featured in such prestigious publications as Better Homes & Gardens Magazine, Professional Builder Magazine, Florida Sportsman Magazine and Builder Magazine.

10 Quick Tips for Sellers

The real estate market is now in transition, and gone are the days of quick sales and bidding wars. Cooling sales are a problem for any homeowner looking to sell his or her home. Homes are not selling as quickly as in recent years, which is good news for buyers but bad news for sellers. We’re also seeing recent sharp increases in value leveling off, but not falling, which is good for real estate buyers and sellers. These changes, however, mean that sellers will have to work harder and compete more to get the best price and a quick sale. Here are several ways you can get a leg up on the competition.

Dump the junk

Less clutter in your home makes it look bigger, roomier and cleaner. Go through your home and make piles of items, such as “garbage,” “charity” and “maybe.” Throw away anything useless, give away anything that may still have use and seriously consider the maybes, such as how long it’s been since you’ve used the item and whether it’s broke or damaged.

Price it right

A home that is priced well above the local market or above similar homes will not sell quickly, or possibly at all. Work with your agent to price your home correctly the first time.

Find the best

Having a good real estate agent or broker can make all the difference in the world when the market becomes more competitive. An agent who knows how to market and advertise your property, and who has good experience and connections, will be an invaluable asset. Interview real estate agents and ask for references.

Require a marketing plan

When you decide upon an agent, make sure that he or she develops a customized marketing plan that fits you and your property. The standard approach may not work for every property.

Change the deal

If your home isn’t selling within a decent time period, consider changing the deal instead of lowering the price. For example, instead of lowering your asking price from $500,000 to $480,000, keep the $500,000 but offer a 2 percent “seller contribution” to help pay for closing costs. This saves you money (you pay $10,000 in closing costs rather than a $20,000 price reduction) and is very appealing to many buyers.

Get a HELOC

Having a home equity line of credit (HELOC) in place can help you, even if you’re not planning to sell your home for several years. This way, you’ll have funds available if you want to buy another home while your current home is on the market. Be aware, however, that if your current home doesn’t sell in a reasonable time period, you may be saddled with multiple mortgage payments.

Fix it

Buyers will ask for a home inspection. You’ll save time by getting a preliminary home inspection yourself and making repairs before putting the house on the market. However, if a repair is requested from a potential buyer, it may be cheaper than finding a new buyer.

Ask for feedback

Find out what potential buyers thought after a showing or open house. Take negative comments as constructive criticism, which you can use to make the next showing or open house better.

Beware of the take back

Watch out for buyers who want you to take back financing. When loans are available everywhere for little or nothing down, don’t go into the banking business when there is less risk to you with an outright sale.

Ignore inconvenience

If a potential buyer wants to see the house at 7 a.m. on Saturday morning, so be it. This is a time where you have to be flexible. It is better to show flexibility and have the house seen than to turn away potential buyers.

Roberta Burish Named 2011 Five-Star Real Estate Agent

Congratulations to Roberta Burish of Keller Williams Realty, who was recently named a Five Star Professional Real Estate Agent. The research was conducted by Five Star Professional, which determined what real estate agents in the Sarasota area rated highest in customer satisfaction.

The team at Five Star Professional contacted consumers in the Sarasota area and asked if they had an extraordinary experience working with a particular real estate agent. Consumers who participated in the survey provided the name of the real estate agent and rated the individual against criteria such as integrity, communication and customer service. The research methodology allows for only 7% or fewer of real estate agents in a given market to qualify for the Five Star Award.

Roberta Burish serves the greater Bradenton and Sarasota real estate market, with an emphasis on the markets of Waterlefe Golf and Country Club, Lakewood Ranch, Cypress Creek, Harbour Walk, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and more! For more information on how she can help you, give her a call at 941-704-4223 or send her an email at rburish@kw.com.

Keller Williams Realty Climbs to Second-Largest Real Estate Franchise in United States

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Keller Williams® Realty Inc., announced today that it is now the second-largest real estate franchise in the United States based on the total number of sales professionals, surpassing Century 21, according to research conducted by REAL Trends, a leading source of analysis and information in the residential real estate industry. The company claimed the number two spot with 77,672 U.S.-based associates at the end of 2010, just two years after claiming the number three spot from RE/MAX® International.

“Once again, this milestone achievement is a direct result of the dedication of our associates and the stability and profitability of the Keller Williams business models,” said Mark Willis, CEO of Keller Williams Realty, Inc. “It’s incredible to see the momentum that our associates and our offices have right now.”

This news comes one week after the announcement of positive growth by the company at their annual convention in Anaheim. Including its presence in Canada, Keller Williams closed the year with 79,315 associates and 701 market centers (offices). At the convention, Willis also shared that Keller Williams associate profit share was up 7.2 percent, with its agents receiving $34.6 million dollars back in 2010. Despite industry contraction, Keller Williams associates across North America also showed significant percentage gains in listings taken (+13%), contracts closed volume (+9%) and contracts closed units (+6%).

The company also formed Keller Williams Worldwide with Chris Heller as president, citing plans for global expansion, with plans to grow the division by an additional 75,000 associates in 10 years.

“Our goals are to expand the Keller Williams Realty model – with the focus on training and our sound business models,” said Chris Heller, president of KW Worldwide. “And, when looking for the right country and business partners in planning for expansion, we will not sacrifice the perfect fit with our mission, vision and the KW culture, those are absolutely necessary.”

Despite the sharp downturn in the real estate market, since 2005 Keller Williams Realty has grown 30 percent in agents, 40 percent in market centers, 21 percent in closed units and 11 percent in closed GCI.

Keller Williams Realty received many accolades in 2010 including:

• Entrepreneur magazine, No. 1 ranked real estate franchise on the 31^st Annual Franchise 500 list
• J.D. Power and Associates, highest in overall satisfaction ratings from home buyers among the largest full-service real estate firms for the third year in a row

• Inman News, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board Gary Keller named one of the 100 Most Influential Leaders in Real Estate
• Training Magazine, highest ranking real estate franchise on the annual Training Top 125, #47 Overall

“It is such an honor to be a part of a company with such dedicated and driven people,” said Mary Tennant, president and COO of Keller Williams Realty. “Our associates are setting the pace in the industry. It is truly an exciting time to be in real estate and to be a part of the Keller Williams family.”

Foreclosure Filings Nationwide Down 14% Between January-February 2011

New data from RealtyTrac shows that foreclosure filings nationwide dropped 14 percent between January and February, as overall activity last month sunk to its lowest level since February of 2008.

RealtyTrac says total foreclosure filings – including default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank repossessions – were reported on 225,101 properties in February, a 27 percent decrease from a year earlier and the biggest year-over-year decline since the company began issuing its report in 2005.

One in every 577 U.S. housing units received a foreclosure filing last month, as default notices, auction announcements, and new REOs all hit their lowest readings in more than a year and a half in RealtyTrac’s study.

On the surface, all good news for an industry trying to get a handle on delinquencies and property repossessions, but RealtyTrac says the sharp decline is likely the result of processing delays following last fall’s robo-signing problems.

“Foreclosure activity dropped to a 36-month low in February as allegations of improper foreclosure processing continued to dog the mortgage servicing industry and disrupt court dockets,” said James Saccacio, RealtyTrac’s CEO. “[T]he bottom line is that the industry is in the midst of a major overhaul that has severely restricted its capacity to process foreclosures.”

Saccacio added, “We expect to see the numbers bounce back, but…monthly volume may never return to its peak in March 2010 of more than 367,000 properties receiving foreclosure filings.”

A total of 63,165 U.S. properties received default notices (NOD, LIS) for the first time in February. Foreclosure auctions (NTS, NFS) were scheduled for the first time on 97,293 homes last month, while lenders completed foreclosure on 64,643 properties.

Nevada posted the highest state foreclosure rate for the 50th straight month with one in every 119 homes there receiving a foreclosure filing during the month, despite a 22 percent decrease in the state’s overall activity.

Arizona claimed the nation’s second highest foreclosure rate at one in every 178 housing units with a foreclosure filing. California took the No. 3 spot with a foreclosure rate of one in every 239 homes.

One in every 273 Utah housing units had a foreclosure filing in February, the nation’s fourth highest foreclosure rate. Idaho had one in every 298 of its homes receive a filing, giving it the nation’s fifth highest rate.

Other states with foreclosure rates ranking among the top 10 in February were Georgia, Michigan, Florida, Colorado, and Hawaii.

Drilling down to the metro level, RealtyTrac says for the second month in a row, no Florida cities posted foreclosure rates in the top 20. That’s in stark contrast to 2010, when the state accounted for nine of the top 20 metro foreclosure rates.

Nevada, California, and Arizona cities, on the other hand, continued to dominate RealtyTrac’s metro list, accounting for all top 10 metro foreclosure rates and 15 of the top 20 metro foreclosure rates in February.

Keller Williams Realty Climbs to Second-Largest Real Estate Franchise in United States

AUSTIN, TEXAS (March 8, 2011)—Keller Williams® Realty Inc., announced today that it is now the second-largest real estate franchise in the United States based on the total number of sales professionals, surpassing Century 21, according to research conducted by REAL Trends, a leading source of analysis and information in the residential real estate industry. The company claimed the number two spot with 77,672 U.S.-based associates at the end of 2010, just two years after claiming the number three spot from RE/MAX® International.

“Once again, this milestone achievement is a direct result of the dedication of our associates and the stability and profitability of the Keller Williams business models,” said Mark Willis, CEO of Keller Williams Realty, Inc. “It’s incredible to see the momentum that our associates and our offices have right now.”

This news comes one week after the announcement of positive growth by the company at their annual convention in Anaheim. Including its presence in Canada, Keller Williams closed the year with 79,315 associates and 701 market centers (offices). At the convention, Willis also shared that Keller Williams associate profit share was up 7.2 percent, with its agents receiving $34.6 million dollars back in 2010. Despite industry contraction, Keller Williams associates across North America also showed significant percentage gains in listings taken (+13%), contracts closed volume (+9%) and contracts closed units (+6%).

The company also formed Keller Williams Worldwide with Chris Heller as president, citing plans for global expansion, with plans to grow the division by an additional 75,000 associates in 10 years.

“Our goals are to expand the Keller Williams Realty model – with the focus on training and our sound business models,” said Chris Heller, president of KW Worldwide. “And, when looking for the right country and business partners in planning for expansion, we will not sacrifice the perfect fit with our mission, vision and the KW culture, those are absolutely necessary.”

Despite the sharp downturn in the real estate market, since 2005 Keller Williams Realty has grown 30 percent in agents, 40 percent in market centers, 21 percent in closed units and 11 percent in closed GCI.

Keller Williams Realty received many accolades in 2010 including:

·         Entrepreneur magazine, No. 1 ranked real estate franchise on the 31^st Annual Franchise 500 list

·         J.D. Power and Associates, highest in overall satisfaction ratings from home buyers among the largest full-service real estate firms for the third year in a row

·         Inman News, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board Gary Keller named one of the 100 Most Influential Leaders in Real Estate

·         Training Magazine, highest ranking real estate franchise on the annual Training Top 125, #47 Overall

“It is such an honor to be a part of a company with such dedicated and driven people,” said Mary Tennant, president and COO of Keller Williams Realty. “Our associates are setting the pace in the industry. It is truly an exciting time to be in real estate and to be a part of the Keller Williams family.”

First Person: 10 Home Renovations That Don’t Necessarily Add Value

Many people, often working under the assumption that all renovations increase the value of a property, spend thousands of dollars on expensive upgrades, changes and additions to their homes. What these people forget, though, is that the next owner may not like the renovations. In fact, most people who buy property make significant changes to it over a period of time. Also, the price of a home is dictated mostly by market forces (such as what other similar houses are selling for), not necessarily by the characteristics of a home. Yes, some qualities are highly-sought after (depending on the area, the time of year, and the personal interest of potential buyers) — such as garages, finished basements, enclosed yards, big kitchens, etc. — but many of the things assumed by some to increase the value of a home in fact do not affect the value at all. They include the following:

Swimming pools. While some people may long to have a swimming pool, some buyers may dread having one. Swimming pools are hard to keep clean and maintain and they are a serious health hazard for unsupervised children and pets. If your property already has a pool, by all means, keep it in good condition for prospective buyers, but don’t put one in under the assumption that it will increase the chances of selling the house or getting more money for it. That is just unrealistic thinking, in most instances.

Over-renovating for your neighborhood. If by making some expensive renovations to your home you are creating a piece of property that will stick out like a sore thumb or drive its price well beyond other homes in that area, then you are making a huge mistake. People may only see the higher taxes they will be paying (since your home may get a higher assessment than other properties), the higher maintenance costs (such as a fancy landscaping may require), or the danger of being viewed as “pretentious” by their new neighbors.

Extensive landscaping. Chances are that the new owners will do their own landscaping. Why would they want to pay you extra money for putting in something that may appeal to you but not to them? You are better off just making sure that your grass is mowed, your bushes trimmed, and your leaves picked up.

High-end upgrades. These can include stainless steel appliances, imported tiles, fancy bath tubs, built-in Jacuzzis, hand-decorated wallpaper, Persian rugs, expensive light fixtures, etc. While some of these things may appeal to you personally, they may not impress potential buyers — in fact, they can sometimes be a turnoff. Most people want to personalize their own home. Also, by adding these things you may disrupt the home’s general décor, which most experts agree should be kept consistent throughout a home.

Wall-to-wall carpeting. You might be better off restoring a home’s wooden flooring. It is easier to cover a wooden floor than it is to rip out carpet. Either way, you can be sure that the new owner will make changes, regardless of what you do. For that reason, you are better off leaving what you have as it is. If you have carpet, let professionals give it a good, strong cleaning, making sure to treat any noticeable stains. If you have wood flooring, sand them down and give them a shiny coat.

Invisible improvements. While they may sound good on paper, don’t expect potential buyers to agree to a higher price because you went out to invest on new plumbing or a new HVAC unit for your home. In general, buyers are impressed by what they see, not what is hidden behind walls or kept in the basement. It is not that they would not appreciate having such a thing but that they might have preferred to have picked it out themselves. At any rate, they will probably feel entitled to these added frills in the same way buyers of new cars feel entitled to new tires, spotless upholstery, and a working CD player.

A refinished or well-decorated basement. While some people may be looking for homes that have this feature, even they may not be ready to pay more than the house should be worth (based on comparable houses) just because the basement is ready to be moved in to. Such a feature may help clinch a sale but it will probably not pay for itself.

Building or upgrading a deck. Decks are a great addition to a home but this is something that some people might want to tackle themselves and they may not like the design you picked out or the quality of the work put into it.

Patio frills. Some people think that they can get their money back if they invest on water fountains, fish ponds, awnings, gazebos, or a multi-purpose playground. These things may or may not impress a buyer and may even help clinch a sale (if you can find someone who shares your taste) but they will not generally increase the value of a home — at least not commensurate to what you spent on these “luxuries.”

The addition or expansion of a garage or carport.

While many people acknowledge that a garage can be very useful, this does not mean that they will necessarily pay more for a house just because the owner recently added a garage or carport to it. People will just assume that the addition benefited the owner as much as it may benefit them — in other words, it is not something that they will necessarily feel an obligation to make any extra compensation for.

Short Sales: 6 Things To Look For Before You Leap

Short sales in today’s real estate market are all too common. Because they are often attractively priced, short sales can be hard to resist when you’re a buyer. Before you do anything rash, pick up the phone and call your real estate agent. Your agent has the means to thoroughly research that property, thereby giving you all the information you need before going any further.

It’s important to note that just because a home is listed at a short sale price doesn’t necessarily mean that it will go for that price. All short sales are subject a the lender’s approval, which means the price is subject to change.

Here are 6 things you need to consider before making a move on a short sale:

Comparable Sales For That Short Sale House

Have your real estate agent look up prices on comparable houses in your area. Are they going for more or less money? Also, because short sales are subject to a lender’s approval, the wait time for a short sale to process can take anywhere between 2-4 months.

Some short sales are priced ridiculously low. So low that the sellers’ bank will never accept them. Listings like these are likely to get multiple offers. If you have your heart set on a particular short sale property, your bid will need to be at or near market value. If you’re not prepared to pay above an inflated price on a lowball short-sale listing, then it would be wise to move onto the next property.

Mortgage Amounts, Number of Loans and Lenders

Ask your agent to research how much is owed against the home and find out the number of loans that are recorded. A second or third mortgage lender will receive peanuts as compared to the amount a senior lender in first position will get.

There are also some lenders out there that have a reputation as being difficult to work with. If your agent is an experienced with short sales, he or she will know who these lenders are, and can advise you of the difficulty you may encounter.

If your offer is 20% or 30% of the mortgaged amount, it is unlikely that your offer will see the light of day on the negotiator’s desk.

Short Sale Listing Agent’s Track Record

A listing agent who is advertising a short sale but has never closed a short sale is a risky proposition for you. That’s because it’s up to the listing agent to submit the short sale package to the lender and negotiate. Your buyer’s agent can’t talk to the bank.

Some listing agents hire outside companies to do their job, and the results of those negotiations are sketchy at best. Ask yourself, do you want to risk rejection of your short sale purchase because the listing agent has no experience?

Short Sale Seller Qualifications

Find out if the listing agent has received a completed short sale package from the seller, and ask about the contents of that package. A complete short sale package consists, at minimum, of the following:

• Sellers’ hardship letter
• Tax returns
• W-2s
• Payroll stubs
• Financial statement
• Bank statements

Some sellers do not want to cooperate and are slow to return these documents. Others have never been told by their agent that these documents are mandatory. You don’t want your short sale purchase delayed because the listing agent doesn’t have the required documents.

Number of Short Sale Offers Received

Homes that are priced under market value will receive multiple offers. An agent is not required to disclose the terms of those offers, but you are within your rights to know how many offers you are up against.

Here’s how it generally works:

• When a short sale home first comes on the market, the first offer will most likely be a tad below list price.
• The second, at list price.
• The third offer will be slightly higher, maybe by a $1,000 or $2,000.
• The fourth offer will be significantly more.

The trick is to make an offer that will beat the competition, yet still be below market value.

The Listing Agent’s Short Sale Procedures

Although REALTORS are required by the REALTOR Code of Ethics to treat everybody fairly, not every agent is a REALTOR. This means the short sale listing agent may decide to submit only the first offer to the bank and withhold all other offers.

Withholding other offers could be considered to be a violation of the fiduciary relationship formed between the listing agent and the seller. The seller is entitled to receive the highest and best price. Realize that even if your offer is submitted to the bank, as time marches by while waiting for short sale approval, another buyer could outbid you.

70% of Americans View Home Ownership As Part of The American Dream

On February 9th, Trulia released the results of its biannual American Dream survey, which has tracked American attitudes towards homeownership since 2009. The survey was conducted in January among 2,079 U.S. adults aged 18 and over.

KEY FINDINGS:

• American Dream Still Lives:Although foreclosures and underwater homes continue to plague the current housing market, 70 percent of Americans still view homeownership as being part of their American Dream. In fact, more than three out of four homeowners (78 percent) say their homes are the best investment they ever made. Conversely, only 20 percent feel trapped in their “underwater” homes while 14 percent said they would walk away from their homes in a heartbeat if they could.

• Millennials Driving Economic Recovery: Although many of today’s young adults came of age during the housing crash, more than one in four (26 percent) say their views on owning a home have become more positive over the past six months. With 88 percent of 18-34 year old renters aspiring to be homeowners, this new generation of buyers will likely play a crucial role in stabilizing today’s uncertain real estate market.

• Stronger Long-term Recovery in Southern and Western Regions: Despite today’s low mortgage rates and high affordability, most would-be homeowners are in no rush to buy. By comparison, a brighter beacon of hope shines in the South and West where the outlook for long-term recovery is much stronger. Undeterred by ongoing reports of foreclosures and underwater homes, 79 percent and 70 percent of renters in these respective regions say they plan to purchase a home.

“Although the American Dream of homeownership remains surprisingly strong, it will not be an immediate reality for most people,” said Tara-Nicholle Nelson, Consumer Educator for Trulia. “Uncertainty has caused most would-be buyers across the nation to play a waiting game with the market, leading them to put their home purchases on hold for at least two years. However, new data shows that most renters in the South and West have long-term plans to buy, which is great news for America’s hardest-hit regions.”

Renting vs. Buying: Which Is Better?

Realtors, when faced with the age-old question of whether prospective buyers should rent or buy, should encourage them to run the numbers themselves to find out what works best for them financially.

There are two invaluable online resources that have the online calculators you need to compare the costs of renting vs. buying a home.

The first can be found on Smart Money’s website: http://www.smartmoney.com/personal-finance/real-estate/to-rent-or-to-buy-9687/. The second is on Freddie Mac’s website: http://www.freddiemac.com/corporate/buyown/english/calcs_tools/.