The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently reported that single women are quickly becoming a significant percentage of the total nu,mber of home buyers in the U.S. real estate market. Last year 20% of all home buyers were single women.
According to the NAR, single women aren’t just purchasing more homes. They are growing savvier about the whole home buying process, being much more likely to ask piercing questions and demanding straight answers to their questions regarding prices, features, financing options, etc. And it is not just young single professional women who are buying homes, the range of single female buyers varies all the way from young singles to post-retirement women.
Due to the increasing number of single women buying homes, both builders and real estate brokers are "stepping up their game" to appeal to this large new segment of the buyer market. Builders are increasingly offering new homes with more extensive security features, low- or no-maintenance yards, gourmet kitchens, more spacious bathrooms, softer color schemes - all features that appeal much more to female than to male buyers.
“When a woman is shopping for a home with a man, she tends often to defer to the man's desire for a garage, a workshop, or a work-at-home office,” says Rich Stover, a noted Sarasota Florida real estate agent. Conversely, says, Judie Berger, another respected Sarasota real estate associate broker, “when a woman is buying a home for herself, she tends to be more interested in how she may be most easily tailor the home to fit her own personal lifestyle, interesta and needs."
As the real estate market continues to bump along without much actual growth, it behooves every real estate professional to pay attention to trends like this and tailor their marketing plans and actions appropriately.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Should Sarasota Florida Be In Your Future
Here’s an interesting statistic, we found recently. There are 78 million baby boomers in the U.S., and professionals predict that one-sixth of them will spend at least part of their lives in Florida. That means that there are almost 13 million people who need to be considering whereabouts they would like to settle in the State of Florida in the next decade.
When those future residents look for the most attractive places to live in Florida, we're betting the Sarasota – Bradenton – Lakewood Ranch area will be high on their list of “most attractive places.” Here’s why:
For starters, Americans Style Magazine ranked Sarasota 5th and Bradenton 10th on it’s list of the “Top 25 Small Cities.” Money Magazine listed Sarasota among the “Nation’s 15 Most Livable Communities” calling it a city with the charm of a smaller southern town with the conveniences of a big city. CNBC said Sarasota Florida is one of the “Most Popular Retirement Destinations.” And, AARP Magazine listed the Sarasota – Bradenton area as one of the four “Best Places To Reinvent Your Life.”
For golfers, the greater Sarasota Florida metropolitan area has over 80 golf courses ranging from public courses to semi-private and private courses which will challenge every level of play. Many of these golf courses lie within master-planned golf course communities like Lakewood Ranch. Residents of the Lakewood Ranch golf course community enjoy a casual, yet comfortable, lifestyle in a community of ten neighborhoods with homes and condos spanning a fairly wide range of sizes with prices ranging from the mid $200′s to over $2 million.
For lovers of the sun and surf, there are 35 miles of white sand beaches stretching from Anna Maria Island on the north to Venice and Northport on the south. Siesta Key beach was voted the “Top Beach in the U.S.” in 2011, with the softest, whitest quartz sand in the world. And for lovers, nowhere in this world will you find more romantic sunsets than along the beaches for the Florida West Coast.
The area is known as “Florida’s Cultural Coast”, home to the renowned Ringling Art Museum, Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Ballet, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and Asolo Theater as well as many art galleries, jazz clubs and local theater groups like the Manatee Players in Bradenton and the Little Theater in Venice. Downtown Sarasota offers dozens of upscale shops and restaurants. And no one disputes the charm of the eclectic shops at famous St Armands Circle. For a less formal experience, Village of the Arts is a vibrant artist community in Bradenton.
Sailing enthusiasts, powerboat owners, scuba divers and fishermen spend relaxing times on the warm waters of Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Some waterfront communities even offer deep water marinas, yacht clubs and fishing docks.
Sarasota and Manatee County schools serve over 80,000 students in both public and privates schools. Nearly 80% of Sarasota teachers have post-bachelor degree training. Two-thirds of our high school graduates go on to college; many at local colleges including University of South Florida – Sarasota, USF – New College, Ringling School of Art & Design, University of Sarasota, Eckerd College, and The State College of Florida – Manatee – Sarasota.
If your youngsters, or grand children, enjoy educational experiences, they, and you, will enjoy the G.Wiz Science Museum, the Sarasota Jungle Gardens and the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota and the South Florida Museum and Bishop Planetarium in Bradenton. Just up the road in Tampa, the world-renowned Florida Aquarium offers a truly unique experience. All offer informative displays and tours attractive to kids “of all ages.”
Sarasota, Bradenton and our Island Keys, Longboat, Lido, Siesta and Casey Key offer the widest possible variety of residential living spaces from downtown high-rise condos, penthouses and town homes to golf course communities and waterfront communities in price ranges to fit every desire you may have.
Whether you're a “snowbird,” a one-time visitor, a professional, or an employee being relocated to the fast-growing Florida West Coast, you should get to know the Sarasota - Bradenton - Lakewood Ranch area on Florida's Sun Coast. This may, in fact, be "the place you'll want to call home" right now or in the future.
Would you like to know more about the Sarasota Florida real estate market in general, or the cultural, shopping or recreational amenities of Sarasota ? We know that Judie Berger, a well-known specialist in Sarasota Luxury Homes would be happy to send you her free Sarasota Florida Real Estate Information Package. Or, if you prefer, call her directly at (941) 928-3424.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Sarasota home sales remain strong during normally weak summer months
The Sarasota Association of Realtors reported a slight drop in single-family home and condo sales in June in the metro Sarasota and Manatee County area. 728 homes and condo sales closed during June compared to 796 in May.
Two positive signs of the overall health of the Sarasota real estate market were (1) that the median sales price for single-family homes, at $175,000, was the highest level in over a year and (2) the inventory of homes for sale dropped to the lowest level in over a decade.
According to Bob Henley, Sarasota Realtor, "in four of the six months of 2011 to date, Sarasota real estate sales have exceeded the 700 level." Pending sales of 754 in June were also down slightly from the May level of 841 reflecting the area’s typical seasonal slowdown as snow birders return home.
There were 510 single-family home and 218 condo closings in June. The current level of home sales is the strongest it has been since the real estate boom of 2003-2005. June's real estate sales volume reflect a high level of buyer interest; close to the mini-boom level that occurred during the Federal Homebuyer Tax Credit incentive program last year.
The total available inventory of properties for sale dropped to 4,830, the equivalent of 5.9 months of inventory of single-family homes and 8.2 months of condominium inventory both far below the highs of 25.3 months for single-family homes in early 2009 and 41.7 months of condominium inventory in late 2008. A 6 month level of inventory is considered to be the point at which buyer and seller interest are in equilibrium. “It is encouraging to see how the Sarasota real estate market has continued its strong momentum in the face of continuing weakness in the national and state economies,” said Sarasota Association of Realtors President, Michael Bruno. “The inventory of available properties, which is lower than it has been since the 1990s, is a very important statistic," he said. Historically, a reduction in the inventory of homes for sale leads to increased prices as buyers begin once again to "compete" for the most attractive properties.
The percentage of distressed sales (short sales and foreclosures) was 38% in June compared to the high point of 51% in November, 2010.
"All of this points to a Sarasota real estate market continuing to recover across the entire market area from Bradenton on the north to Venice on the south including the barrier islands, Longboat, Siesta, Lido and Casey Key," says Judie Berger, a well known Sarasota Florida real estate associate broker. Those who have been considering buying a primary or second home anywhere in Sarasota or Manatee County would be well advised to come to town now while home and condo prices are still more attractive than they have been in the past or are likely to be for much longer.
Two positive signs of the overall health of the Sarasota real estate market were (1) that the median sales price for single-family homes, at $175,000, was the highest level in over a year and (2) the inventory of homes for sale dropped to the lowest level in over a decade.
According to Bob Henley, Sarasota Realtor, "in four of the six months of 2011 to date, Sarasota real estate sales have exceeded the 700 level." Pending sales of 754 in June were also down slightly from the May level of 841 reflecting the area’s typical seasonal slowdown as snow birders return home.
There were 510 single-family home and 218 condo closings in June. The current level of home sales is the strongest it has been since the real estate boom of 2003-2005. June's real estate sales volume reflect a high level of buyer interest; close to the mini-boom level that occurred during the Federal Homebuyer Tax Credit incentive program last year.
The total available inventory of properties for sale dropped to 4,830, the equivalent of 5.9 months of inventory of single-family homes and 8.2 months of condominium inventory both far below the highs of 25.3 months for single-family homes in early 2009 and 41.7 months of condominium inventory in late 2008. A 6 month level of inventory is considered to be the point at which buyer and seller interest are in equilibrium. “It is encouraging to see how the Sarasota real estate market has continued its strong momentum in the face of continuing weakness in the national and state economies,” said Sarasota Association of Realtors President, Michael Bruno. “The inventory of available properties, which is lower than it has been since the 1990s, is a very important statistic," he said. Historically, a reduction in the inventory of homes for sale leads to increased prices as buyers begin once again to "compete" for the most attractive properties.
The percentage of distressed sales (short sales and foreclosures) was 38% in June compared to the high point of 51% in November, 2010.
"All of this points to a Sarasota real estate market continuing to recover across the entire market area from Bradenton on the north to Venice on the south including the barrier islands, Longboat, Siesta, Lido and Casey Key," says Judie Berger, a well known Sarasota Florida real estate associate broker. Those who have been considering buying a primary or second home anywhere in Sarasota or Manatee County would be well advised to come to town now while home and condo prices are still more attractive than they have been in the past or are likely to be for much longer.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Luxurious Homes Available at Bargains in Tampa Bay
The most expensive home for sale in the Sarasota area, according to Brian Ward, a Sarasota homes for sale Accredited Buyer Representative, is this 10,087 sq ft, 7 bed, 6 1/2 bath home on Longboat Key. Rich Stover, another Sarasota real estate agent with RE/MAX Alliance Group assures us that another place where one can find luxurious homes is on Casey Key where just about every home has a gorgeous gulf-view.
Further north a bit in Tampa Bay, the most luxurious and palatial home just became a bargain if a home that is priced at $14.9 million can be described as a "bargain."
Mark Yaffe, the owner, dropped the price of his 29,000-square-foot estate from $17.5 a second price drop from the original asking price of $25 million in 2008.
This ornate manor home, modeled after a 17th century British royal palace, has 10 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms sitting on six acres. It took just over seven years to build this ornate estate in the upscale Avila community in the northwestern part of Tampa.
"There are plenty of expensive homes throughout Tampa Bay including the Sarasota, Longboat Key and St Petersburg areas," says Bob Henley, a well-known RE/MAX realtor who specializes in Siesta Key, Osprey and Sarasota golf course homes.
Particularly for cash buyers, there is a luxury golf course or gulf-front home waiting for you to snap it up at a bargain price somewhere in the Tampa Bay area stretching from Tampa and St Petersburg to Sarasota, Osprey and Venice Florida including the Barrier Island, Siesta, Longboat, Lido and Casey Key.
Friday, June 24, 2011
All-Cash Home Buyers Have an Amazing Opportunity
USA Today reported this week that all-cash buyers are beginning to scoop up homes all across the country at bargain prices. On average, U.S. home prices are now 33% below their 2006 peak. In many areas, prices have come down even more. In some cases as much as 50 to 70% from their highs. Those buyers apparently believe that prices won't get much cheaper any time soon and they see an opportunity to make some money either through rentals or by holding the properties until times get better.
All over Florida, there are substantial numbers of homes for sale at bargain prices. Some, admittedly are short sales and foreclosure properties that require a fair amount of investment before they will be viable rentals or second homes. But, according to Andree Huffine, a Sarasota real estate expert, there are also all sorts of other real estate properties for sale at bargain prices including luxury waterfront and golf course homes and condominiums in the $1 million and up price range.
Homeowners in all price ranges who need or want to sell their homes or condos, after having held off for two or more years already 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.
Yes, mortgages are still tight but that is opening an opportunity for seen before for those with cash to get great deals on Florida real estate properties. Some of these all-cash buyers are Americans, but there also substantial numbers of Canadians and European buyers in the market.
Home sellers throughout Florida are beginning to be willing to accept lower price offers from all-cash buyers who have no financing contingencies in their offers. They also recognize that an all-cash deal can close within 2-3 weeks, far more quickly than a deal requiring the normal appraisal and mortgage approval, and vastly quicker than a short sale.
"As a result," says Bob Henley, a Sarasota Florida real estate agent with RE/MAX Alliance Group in Sarasota, "home buyers with cash on hand are in the enviable position of being able right now to purchase a home or condominium as either an investment property or as a second home at truly attractive price."
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Siesta Key has the #1 Beach in the U.S.
That wide slice of quartz crystal white sand that is Siesta Key beach has won the title of the "Nation's Top Beach" last week.
Steven Leatherman, (affectionately known as Dr. Beach, director of the Florida International University Laboratory for Coastal Research, every year compares all the best beaches in the country and selects the top 10 beaches based upon 50 criteria. Those criteria include the look and feel of the sand, quality of the water, facilities available among other factors.
San Diego's Coronado Beach, which has scored at #1 previously, was the runner-up this year. Number 3 was Kahanamoku Beach in Hawaii, while #4 was Main Beach, in East Hampton, NY. Rounding out the top 5 was Cape Hatteras Beach in North Carolina.
Among other factors, Siesta Beach scored well on its shallow, warm water and gentle currents while losing a few points due to the heavy vista of condominiums.
Praise for the 40 acre Siesta Key beach comes as no surprise to Janet Dugan, a well-known seller of Siesta Key condos or to Judie Berger, a Siesta Key real estate agent and Siesta Key resident. herself.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Selling a Florida Home in the "Off Season"
Not everyone who relocates to Florida decides to buy a home while they are here as “snowbirds” in the months of December through April the appeal of our Sun Coast lifestyle is so obvious or when the kids are out of school and they have the time to be choosey because they’ve got three months before the kids need to be back in school. If you need to sell a home or condominium during the “off-season,” you may need to put a little more effort and creativity into the task of selling your home
Everyone who has ever sold a home has heard the usual advice: "Find a good agent, be aware of local home values, remove personal items and de-clutter the home. Touch up the paint, remove old wallpaper and keep the dog out of the way. That is all good advice, but it’s not always enough,” says the author of the blog Real Estate of Florida blog. "You may need to put in a little extra effort to achieve success if you’re selling your home in the “off-season.”
Keep these five suggestions in mind from the moment you start planning your next move and be open to further suggestions from your Realtors or other Realtors who show your home:
1. Start With an Accurate Valuation of Your Home: Nothing turns a new listing in to "stale on the market" listing faster thans tarting out at too high a price. You probably already know enough to use neighboring home values as comparisons in setting your asking price, but now, some additional homework can pay off. If you need to sell quickly, price your homs a little lower than the market suggests. In this post real estate bubble and bust timeframe, it’s also important to have a heightened awareness of foreclosures in your immediate area. Any foreclosures in your immediate neighborhood put a dent in your home’s market value today.
2. Get Involved Yourself: Just because you’re working with a Realtor® like Judie Berger doesn’t mean you can’t do some of your own legwork. The first 10 days on the market are the most critical to selling a home because new listings get the most attention from buyers. Internet-based social media sites have opened limitless new strategies to sell your home. Also consider using sites like Craigslist, Facebook, Flickr, Zillow and YouTube. Make sure you’ve agreed with your Realtor to pay his or her commission (or some other mutually agreed-upon amount) if you sell it yourself using one of these venues. Post pictures on these sites that show your home at its best. You can even upload a video tour. At some real estate agencies are making a video tour an integral part of their home marketing plan.
3. Accept Helping Hands: Take advantage of a wide range of services, beyond your local Realtor’s, that could help you streamline the home selling process. Some cost money, such as a home “staging” service that can help you show your home at its best. Others, like just your realtor to schedule a "broker's open house where many Realtors wkill tour your home and make suggestions, can be free. If you are employed or in the military, you may find that your employer or the the military services will offer you services for free or at discounted rates.
4. Get Creative With Your Sale Terms: Sometimes it takes unique terms to seal a deal. You can sweeten the deal by offering to pay some or all of a buyer’s closing costs, for example. In some master-planned communities, you may also be able to offer to pay the new owner’s membership initiation fee for the local golf, yacht or athletic club.
5. Stay Flexible: According to the experts, buyers and sellers should keep their pride in check and be willing to make concessions, especially in the off season. That means not haggling over minor repairs or refusing to leave behind the chandelier your potential buyer loves. Factor in your thinking the cost of keeping up your home for several more months versus just accepting a lower selling price or letting something go with the home and having the sale done right now.
Even in the most sluggish or off-season real estate market, getting ahead of the curve with these suggestions can lead to a quicker sale and get you successfully on to whatever you had planned as your next step in life..
Everyone who has ever sold a home has heard the usual advice: "Find a good agent, be aware of local home values, remove personal items and de-clutter the home. Touch up the paint, remove old wallpaper and keep the dog out of the way. That is all good advice, but it’s not always enough,” says the author of the blog Real Estate of Florida blog. "You may need to put in a little extra effort to achieve success if you’re selling your home in the “off-season.”
Keep these five suggestions in mind from the moment you start planning your next move and be open to further suggestions from your Realtors or other Realtors who show your home:
1. Start With an Accurate Valuation of Your Home: Nothing turns a new listing in to "stale on the market" listing faster thans tarting out at too high a price. You probably already know enough to use neighboring home values as comparisons in setting your asking price, but now, some additional homework can pay off. If you need to sell quickly, price your homs a little lower than the market suggests. In this post real estate bubble and bust timeframe, it’s also important to have a heightened awareness of foreclosures in your immediate area. Any foreclosures in your immediate neighborhood put a dent in your home’s market value today.
2. Get Involved Yourself: Just because you’re working with a Realtor® like Judie Berger doesn’t mean you can’t do some of your own legwork. The first 10 days on the market are the most critical to selling a home because new listings get the most attention from buyers. Internet-based social media sites have opened limitless new strategies to sell your home. Also consider using sites like Craigslist, Facebook, Flickr, Zillow and YouTube. Make sure you’ve agreed with your Realtor to pay his or her commission (or some other mutually agreed-upon amount) if you sell it yourself using one of these venues. Post pictures on these sites that show your home at its best. You can even upload a video tour. At some real estate agencies are making a video tour an integral part of their home marketing plan.
3. Accept Helping Hands: Take advantage of a wide range of services, beyond your local Realtor’s, that could help you streamline the home selling process. Some cost money, such as a home “staging” service that can help you show your home at its best. Others, like just your realtor to schedule a "broker's open house where many Realtors wkill tour your home and make suggestions, can be free. If you are employed or in the military, you may find that your employer or the the military services will offer you services for free or at discounted rates.
4. Get Creative With Your Sale Terms: Sometimes it takes unique terms to seal a deal. You can sweeten the deal by offering to pay some or all of a buyer’s closing costs, for example. In some master-planned communities, you may also be able to offer to pay the new owner’s membership initiation fee for the local golf, yacht or athletic club.
5. Stay Flexible: According to the experts, buyers and sellers should keep their pride in check and be willing to make concessions, especially in the off season. That means not haggling over minor repairs or refusing to leave behind the chandelier your potential buyer loves. Factor in your thinking the cost of keeping up your home for several more months versus just accepting a lower selling price or letting something go with the home and having the sale done right now.
Even in the most sluggish or off-season real estate market, getting ahead of the curve with these suggestions can lead to a quicker sale and get you successfully on to whatever you had planned as your next step in life..
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