David Barr's Sarasota and Venice Real Estate Blog

I did a quick comparison today at 12:20 pm as to the total number of single family homes for sale in Venice FL, on both the MLS and on Zillow.  Here are the screen shots of the results: MLS shows 379 active single family homes for sale with a Venice FL address. Zillow's website shows 876 "houses" for sale in Venice FL. This is a wildly inaccurate number from Zillow, and the discrepancy is far too large to account for FSBO listings that aren't included in the MLS.  Zillow is notorious for leaving old and sold listings on its site, in a single minded focus on "having the most listings" in their failing attempt to compete with Realtor.com. The "most listings" doesn't translate to an accurate website with properties you can actually buy. #Localisbetter . Zillow is in business to sell advertising, not sell real estate.  Learn more about Zillow's inaccurate data and why they do this on my website .

Zillow, and now competitor Movoto, are lisitng "coming soon" or "pre-foreclosure" or "off market" properties on their websites. This is a deceptive marketing ploy to lure you to register in the hopes of beating the market. You will be contacted by an agent who is paying Zillow or Movoto for your contact information. You can't buy a coming soon, pre-foreclosure, or off market property on Zillow, Movoto, etc. Zillow won't tell you: You can't purchase a pre-foreclosure or "off market" property until it's listed for sale with a Realtor.  The banks have no reason to withhold a property for sale from the public market to set the price; FSBO and "pocket listings" that are not widely advertised on the public market cannot be used by a mortgage appraiser for comparable sale prices.  These usually sell at lower prices than properties offered for sale to the public on the MLS. When searching for homes for sale, Zil...

I don't think we are in a strong real estate market in Venice or Sarasota.  I think we are in a difficult market with historically low levels of available homes for sale. Most home sellers are taking a firm stance when negotiating price, but there may still be options for you as a buyer, to find motivated sellers and negotiate a good deal. Visit my website   to find Venice real estate that has been on the market over 90 days with at least one price reduction.  While there's no guarantee the owners of these properties are motivated, they may be more likely to want to negotiate versus more recently listed properties. Please contact me for more information or to schedule a property showing.

You'll see one or both of these services advertised by most Realtors, on a postcard mailing or on their websites.  While they may give you a quick value, the estimate could be off by tens of thousands of dollars. For example, the location of your home or condo within the subdivision or complex can greatly affect values.  The same goes for an updated property versus other recent sales.  There are a huge number of variables that go into the value of your home that a computer program can't account for. I have developed my exclusive "triangulation method" for the most accurate home value estimates. Need a quick value now, or a second opinion?  Please tell me about your property on my website . When you're ready to sell your Venice FL real estate, take a look at my services and experience and contact me for a consultation.

If you've been searching for Venice FL or Sarasota real estate you've no doubt seen those websites from Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, Movoto, Redfin, and even some from Boca Raton. Why are these sites showing up when you perform a Google search? A local real estate website is better for your Venice FL real estate search It's simple: they are selling your contact information to agents who pay for it, experienced or inexperienced. The advent of these websites has changed the real estate business, and in my opinion, not for the better.  For example, Zillow/Trulia (now the same company) gets a lot of web traffic, but the fact is that they have a huge amount of inaccurate listing data.  It's confusing for consumers and frustrating for agents who have to explain why Zillow/Trulia are so inaccurate. It's also frustrating for you to have to sign up/register and log in to view listings online. The other pitfall to using these sites is that you as a con...

As regular readers of this blog may know, I am not a fan of Zillow/Trulia. I ran across an interesting article that sheds more light on Zillow and why they are not a reliable source of real estate information.  You can read the article here:  http://www.housingwire.com/articles/35257 Zillow is not a reliable source of real estate information Zillow is not a licensed Realtor or real estate broker in any state, and belongs to no MLS.  Because they are unlicensed they are not regulated or bound by the same laws, rules, and code of ethics.  This means they can leave expired or sold listings on their website, so they can say they have as many as Realtor.com. Bottom line:  A local real estate website like www.davidbarrhomes.com will give you more information and more accurate real estate listings.

Venice Beach condos are one of our area's best kept secrets.  Siesta Key gets a lot of press which creates a lot of demand.  That demand has created a big disparity in gulf front condo prices. Siesta Key beach is beautiful and it's part of my geographic service area, but Venice Beach condos represent an amazing value on a price comparison alone.  Venice Beach condos on Venice Island, like some Siesta Key condos, are within walking distance of shops and restaurants. Let's take a look at Venice Island condos for sale on the beach during your next visit to the Sarasota or Venice area.

Today I toured a home for sale in Venice Gardens in Venice FL.  It was one of the best examples of house flipping I have seen in Venice in quite a while, and it's an excellent value for anyone looking for Venice FL real estate. With the owner's and listing agent's permission, I'll share some photos of this property. Venice Gardens  is known for 2 bedroom/2 bath homes, with one car garages and concrete block construction.  This one had three good sized bedrooms and has nice curb appeal. The kitchen is the first thing you see when you enter the home, and it makes quite the impression. The combination of the timeless white cabinets, contemporary cabinet pulls, subway tile back splash, and solid wood counter tops will appeal to today's home buyers and lends a touch of sophistication that won't go out of style. Like the kitchen, both baths have contemporary sinks and faucets that look far better than a standard out of the box vanity from th...

There has been a paradigm shift in how you should approach your choice of Realtor in Sarasota and Venice, or any market for that matter. The fact is that with more and more real estate information readily available online, buyers and sellers should no longer solely rely on selecting a Realtor with more "years of experience" to help set a listing price or help find the right neighborhoods. Your choice of a Realtor should come down to one major thing:  computer literacy. Comedy always contains a kernel of truth. Besides price, think about what your Realtor is going to be doing for you.  If you're selling, your Realtor will be marketing your home to potential buyers.  Where do the buyers come from? 94 % of them start looking online.  That means marketing to them on the dreaded computer.  Even worse for the computer-challenged Realtor, the choice of matketing is more complicated than ever due to increased mobile device usage. If you're buying, what wil...

A lot of new home buyers (and most Realtors) are in the habit of  looking for new homes in subdivisions.  They are easy to spot as the land is being cleared, and it's easier for the builders to promote subdivisions as a group of homes with similar amenities. DR Horton is taking a bit different approach and is offering what I think is one of the best kept secrets in new homes in Sarasota or Charlotte Counties. During the real estate downturn, South Gulf Cove in Charlotte County was hard hit with foreclosures. Many vacant single family lots dropped drastically in value. DR Horton is now building brand new single family homes on 10,000 sq. ft. and larger lots on saltwater canals (lock access to the Myakka River/Charlotte Harbor) starting at $185,000, without private pool. South Gulf Cove has a voluntary HOA.  A similar home in one of DR Horton's subdivisions would start at $250,000 with HOA fee, without boating access. Please contact me for a list of ...

Here's my weekly update on Venice FL home sales that showed appreciation over their previous sale. A 3 bedroom 2 bath home on Venice Island, just a block from the beach, just sold for $390,000 after 22 days on the market. The previous sale was $120,000 in 1994. Venice Island real estate is in high demand and this home represented an excellent value based on it's proximity to the beach and it's large 12,000 square foot lot. This home would be a good candidate for a tear down or for a major renovation. For current Venice Island real for sale, please visit my website  http://www.davidbarrhomes.com/#!venice-island-fl-real-estate/c5bz

Here's my weekly update on high and low real estate sales last week for Sarasota. The most expensive sale last week was on Bay Island on Siesta Key.  A five bedroom, six and a half bath single family home with 6,438 sq. ft. and full Sarasota Bay views sold for $5,100,000 in 198 days at 96% of the original list price. We have a tie among the lowest sales last week, and both were villas.  One villa in Strathmore Villas (17th St. and Beneva Rd.) sold for $60,000, $1 over list price after 24 days on the market.  The other villa sold in Summerwind (Old Bradenton Rd. just south of 47th St.)  It was a short sale that also sold for $60,000, 92% of the original list price after 720 days on the market. For more real estate information and the latest property listings in Sarasota, please visit www.sarasotahomesforsale.us.

Here's an update on last week's highs and lows in Venice FL real estate. Venice's least expensive sale was a condo on Venice Island in Holiday Apartments.  This 2 bedroom and 2 bath unit sold after 2 days on the market for $85,000, just over the list price of $84,900.  This unit had and updated kitchen and appliances. Venice's most expensive sale last week was a 3 bedroom, 3 bath home in The Lakes of Jacaranda.  It sold for $450,000 in 10 days at 97% of the original list price. For more information on Venice FL real estate, please visit www.davidbarrhomes.com.

Sarasota's most expensive real estate sale last week was also one that showed an impressive increase in value over it's previous sale. A single family, 7 bedroom,  5 and a half bath beachfront home on Siesta Key in The Sanderling Club sold for $6,250,000, 84% of it's original list price after 271 days on the market.  The property last sold in 1988 for $955,000. For more information on Sarasota real estate, please visit www.sarasotahomesforsale.us .

The Venice FL real estate market is showing some signs of improving over the 2008 market crash. A pool home recently sold on Venice Island in Golden Beach for $649,000, a healthy increase over it's last sale in 2006 for $495,000. While Sarasota is showing more of a general improvement in prices for most property types, prices, and locations, the recovery in Venice seems to most prevalent among entry level homes, new construction, and homes in high demand areas, such as this property in Golden Beach on the Island. Examples are recent sales in Pelican Pointe and Venetia .  Two upscale homes recently sold in these neighborhoods at prices that were lower than their previous sale price. For all your Venice FL real estate needs and to browse property for sale, please visit my website www.davidbarrhomes.com

Sarasota real estate continues it's healthy recovery.  Here's an update for a regular feature here on my blog I call Capital Gains. Last week a property sold for $3,100,000 in Vista Bay Point, a luxury condo located on Golden Gate Point . It last sold for $1,930,000 in December 2005. The condo was a 3 bedroom, 3 and a half bath penthouse unit with Sarasota Bay Views.  It sold after 818 days on the market, at 89% of list price. Subscribe to this blog for the latest Sarasota real estate news, and visit www.sarasotahomesforsale.us   for property listings and local information.

Here's a look at this week's highest priced and lowest priced real estate sales in Venice FL. The Highest In Venice this week, the highest priced sale was a pre-construction new home in Grand Palm for $655,890.  This pool home , a Captiva model, will have a three-car garage , three bedrooms and three baths, with 2,698 square feet under air.  You can view the MLS report here . The Lowest A 1 bedroom, 1 bath condo in downtown Venice was this week's lowest priced sale at $114,900, which sold in 1 day on the market at full listing price.  Terms were all cash.  View the MLS property report here . For more Venice FL real estate, visit my website www.davidbarrhomes.com

Let's take a look at the highs and lows of Sarasota real estate this week. The Highest The highest priced sale in Sarasota was a single family home West of the Trail  for $4,100,000, 89% of the list price after 211 days on the market.  You can view the property report from the MLS here . The Lowest The lowest priced sale was a 3 bedroom, 2 and a half bath townhome for $36,900.  It sold after 9 days on the market at full list price for cash.  You can view the property report from the MLS here . For Sarasota real estate, visit www.sarasotahomesforsale.us .

Here's a look at the most and least expensive homes and condos that sold this week in Sarasota and Venice. Sarasota The most expensive single family home sold this week was for $1,600,000, 97% of the original list price.  The property was a 4 bedroom, 4 bath home with 2,965 square feet on Siesta Key. View this home's MLS report . The most expensive condo/villa/townhome sold in Sarasota this week was also on Siesta Key in Summer Cove.  The 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath condo with 2,490 square feet sold for $2,185,000, equalling 95% of the original list price. View this condos's MLS report . Venice Venice's most expensive sold single family home this week was a 3 bedroom, 4 bath pool home on Venice Island just a block off the beach.  It sold for $745,000 in 115 days for 95% of the original list price. View this Venice FL home's MLS report . We have a tie among Venice condos this week, with two that sold for $360,000, both on the Island.  One was...

Cash sales continue to fuel the Sarasota and Venice FL real estate markets.   This past summer, over 50% of real estate transactions were cash in both cities: Why is this occurring when we are seeing national news stories about the slow down in investor money in the real estate market? Sarasota and Venice attract affluent home buyers and those buyers are more likely to have cash. The percentage of cash buyers is probably not tied so closely to investors, but to those looking for retirement or seasonal residences. These buyers understand that a cash offer to purchase, in a multiple offer situation, looks far more attractive to a seller and increases the chances of their offer being accepted. For more real estate information, please visit www.davidbarrhomes.com or www.sarasotahomesforsale.us

I've added a new Sarasota real estate website to my online portfolio. In addition to my Venice and Englewood websites, I invite you to visit www.sarasotahomesforsale.us . I sold real estate in Sarasota when I first moved to Florida in 2002, and have continued to show and sell in Sarasota since joining Berkshire Hathaway in Venice in 2014. If you're not sure of the area you'd like to consider for your vacation, seasonal, or retirement home, as your buyer's agent I have first hand experience with real estate in an area from Sarasota south to Englewood. Please contact me for Sarasota and Venice real estate information.

I was doing some market intelligence today and I noticed something quite interesting. The major real estate portals such as Zillow/Trulia, Redfin, Movoto, etc., are including what are supposed to look like an active inventory count of available properties for the search term queried.  It seems one of our competitors has picked up on this trend. Today's search results for "Venice Island FL real estate" showing incorrect inventory on competitor websites Both of these search results are displaying incorrect inventory levels for the search terms used.  Since "Venice Island" is a geographic area more than a neighborhood, I use the mapping feature available in our MLS to display properties there for sale on my website .  Today there are 93 single family homes, condos, townhomes, and villas for sale in that area, not 127. As far as Zillow's link, it wasn't even accurate based on the keywords used.  For Venice FL, there are not 977 homes for sale. ...

I was reading today about Zillow acquiring DotLoop. I had not heard of DotLoop. Apparently it's a competitor to Docusign. And there's a lot of competitors to Docusign.  But I digress. The blog I was reading posted this link to a YouTube video about this acquisition:   https://youtu.be/FTvEw0toTTc I believe this is Zillow's last gasp. Zillow's end game is to change how real estate is transacted.  They have been pursuing a strategy of acquiring electronic signature companies, online rental companies, and IDX data (and stealing it to display on Zillow), all in an effort to begin the creation of a new online experience.  Zillow wants an end-run around Realtors, and appeal long term to millenials, who live their lives through apps. They can't win the accuracy battle with Realtor.com. They can't win the PR battle they face against an army of Realtors who are spreading the word about Zillow's unethical and misleading business practices. They are n...

There are big changes coming to real estate that will be affecting both home buyers and home sellers that center around mortgage loans and closings. Known in our industry as TRID (which stands for TILA RESPA Integrated Disclosure), buyers who are financing their real estate purchase will have new financial disclosures and mandatory review periods that will affect how long it takes to close, once a property goes under contract. The HUD-1 settlement statement will disappear on 10/3. Home buyers will receive two new forms when financing: an initial loan estimate disclosure, which replaces the current GFE (Good Faith Estimate) and the inital TIL (Truth in Lending disclosure); then, three days before closing, the home buyer and home seller each will receive a Closing Disclosure, which is meant to more clearly outline loan terms, fees, and other charges than the current HUD-1 settlement statement. The changes this brings to the residenial real estate industry are very detailed, b...

People seeking refuge from winter weather or retiring have a lot of choices when it comes to Florida real estate.  Does renting for a year to see if you like an area make sense? I've been posting neighborhood market reports for the past couple of weeks.  Values are increasing dramatically (in Venice and most of the rest of Florida) because of demand.  Take a look at the numbers for an entry level neighborhood, South Venice: The median sales price for a South Venice single family home increased $26,000 in the first six months of 2015 compared to the same period last year.  If you decided to rent a home in South Venice, rental rates for a single family home on an annual basis are around $1200 per month, equaling $14,400.   Renting for a year in South Venice could cost you $40,400.  Look at that equity you missed out on. I like to say that homes are homes and people are people, no matter where you live.  What makes towns and cities di...

Periodically I run across articles about the next trend in appliances after stainless steel.  I hear a lot of people complain about maintaining stainless steel in their kitchens, but according to the data, most home buyers consider it superior to white or black finishes. Whirlpool's Ice Collection GE's slate finish Whirlpool's stainless collection Two of the major appliance manufacturers are offering alternatives to stainless steel, due to what many in the industry believe is the end of the stainless steel era.  What do you think?  Would you consider a renovated kitchen in Whirlpool's Ice Collection as desirable as stainless?

One of the common questions we get in Venice FL real estate is if concrete block homes are really better than wood frame homes. I myself was surprised when I first moved to Florida to find that concrete block was prevalent. Where I come from, it was the garage that was built out of concrete block, but not the homes themselves.  I encounter many buyers from up north with the same reaction. The pros for concrete block homes in Florida are:  Concrete block is stronger than wood frame, in the case of a major storm or flood;  Better insulating properties and lower utility costs;  Improved sound deadening properties;  Lower insurance costs;  Lower long term maintenance costs; Higher apparent demand among the buying public. Concrete block homes are more termite resistant, but are not fully termite proof.  Most concrete block homes have wood roof trusses and interior wall studs.  Home buyers should also be aware that two story homes ...

Using reclaimed wood is becoming an even more popular design trend, and one which could work well in decorating your Venice FL home or condo. Reclaimed wood is being used in all kinds of ways: dimensional walls, coffee tables, side tables, and outdoor furniture.  You can use all kinds of wood: pallet wood, siding, logs, and even paint stirrers. The reclaimed wood on this coffee table is a nice contrast to the light, casual colors in this living room. Can't you picture this type of accent wall in a beach home? Add this type of table to your lanai or patio. This dimensional wood accent wall could replace more expensive ceramic or stone tile. There's a lot you can do with reclaimed wood to personalize your home or condo in Venice FL. These types of elements will create a memorable selling point and add value if you are renovating a home or condo to sell.   Please contact me for more ideas on selling your Venice FL real estate .

Venice Island presents a challenge when analyzing real estate prices.  Properties run from entry level vacation condos under $100K to multi-million dollar homes directly on the beach.  For this comparison I looked at all types of properties, just to get a broad snapshot the market. Pricing real estate on the Island (as we locals call it) for purchase or listing for sale would require a much more detailed investigation of recent sales at street level or individual building in the case of a condo. Map of Venice Island, FL An increase of 18% in median sales price for the first six months of 2015 versus the first 6 months of 2014 shows Venice Island real estate is in high demand.  If you're looking for an investment property in Venice or a second home or retirement property, please contact me .  You can also search all Venice Island real estate for sale on my website .

I see it almost every day in my real estate business: a renovated home that doesn't quite hit the mark with buyers. Take a look at the before and after pictures of a kitchen update courtesy of theyellowcapecod.com : This kitchen looks pretty good as it is, right?  Newer cabinets and what look to be solid surface counter tops and newer appliances are pretty standard items for what most people look for in a renovation. Take a close look at the after picture.  The kitchen cabinets and counter tops are unchanged except for color and door pulls.  In my opinion, white cabinets will never go out of style.  And, make sure to pay special attention to the cabinet door pulls.  This can make or break your renovation in the eyes of a buyer.  A couple of well-chosen updated light fixtures successfully complete the updated look. When you're ready to sell your Venice FL real estate , please contact me .

Venice Gardens is a popular neighborhood both for it's affordability and location, situated just minutes from downtown and local beaches.  Most homes are concrete block construction with public water available.  One of the unique features of Venice Gardens is the chain of lakes. Many homes have beautiful water views and private docks for canoes or kayaks. Real estate prices for the first 6 months of 2015 showed an increase over the same period in 2014, with median sales prices of single family homes jumping 14%.  Sales volume more than tripled, with 97 properties sold during the period in 2015 compared to 30 in 2014. If you are interested in purchasing a home in Venice Gardens please contact me .  You can view currently available homes for sale in Venice Gardens on my website .

We're halfway through the year and I thought I'd take a look at how the first six months of 2015 stacked up against 2014.  I'll be doing this for many popular Venice FL neighborhoods in the coming days and weeks, but today's blog post starts with South Venice. The biggest takeaways from this analysis are that the median sales price increased 22% over the first six months of 2014, and sellers found themselves in control in price negotiations, with only a 2% difference between the list price and the sales price of the property.  Demand was high in 2015, with days on market 37% shorter than in 2014. This also brings up another issue I hear from potential buyers who want to rent before they buy.  If you decided to rent first in South Venice, you likely spent about $14,000 on an annual rental. While you waited a year to buy, the same house was $23,500 more.  That's $37,500 in lost equity. Waiting to get in the real estate market costs a lot of money. ...

A new report from the National Association of Realtors called the Danger Report suggests that the sales team concept threatens brokers and individual agents. According to the report, sales teams can become powerful and create their own brand outside the broker's branding.  Brokers also fear the managing team member could create policies for their team of agents that go against the broker's policies, or worse yet, violate Realtor ethics or real estate law. I operate as an individual agent and I've never felt threatened by a competing sales team.   Most of the customers I work with want to know that the agent they hire is directly responsible for every single facet of their real estate transaction. Who wants a newbie inputting property descriptions into the MLS or in marketing?  I can't think of anything that would be more frustrating as a real estate customer than calling my Realtor and getting passed on to "the person who handles that". For more o...