David Barr's Sarasota and Venice Real Estate Blog

Part of my to do list for my real estate business as we entered 2019 was to begin using Facebook Live. I've just completed my third live session on Facebook talking about expired listings in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, and Venice. You can view the video here: Expired real estate listings with David Barr BHHS in Sarasota FL Posted by David Barr, Broker on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 If your home is an expired listings, and is no longer showing in the MLS, please contact me about putting your property back on the market and getting it sold.

Sometimes a map isn't enough.  Here's some pictures of my real estate office in Sarasota with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty. Our Palmer Ranch office, located next to Outback Steak House, on the south Trail. Our office is close to the well known West of Trail neighborhoods. Looking north toward Stickney Point Road, with downtown Sarasota on the horizon. Buccaneer Bay, Coral Cove, and Southpointe Shores are just across Tamiami Trail from our Palmer Ranch office. Buccaneer Bay looking west over the ICW toward Siesta Key and Point Crisp Stop in and see me if you're interested in selling your Sarasota home in these areas.

Venice FL is not only an interesting place to live, it's also an interesting real estate market. It's no secret to anyone in the real estate business that we were hit with a double whammy in 2018, which is still having effects: 1) Red tide kept summer and fall vacationers away; 2) The downtown beautification project was ill timed and is taking longer than anticipated. Venice downtown beautification in Sept 2018 Who can blame vacationers and potential home buyers from staying away? The slow market in the last half of 2018 is just now beginning to trickle down to home sellers.  There's more properties on the market now for you to choose from, and a lot of price reductions. A very quiet Inn at the Beach at Venice Beach in Sept 2018 In fact, when touring homes with my last two sets of customers the past couple of weeks, practically every property had been reduced in price. As far as choice goes, there's even 3 units for sale in The Sansovino on Venic...

When you're working with me as your real estate agent in Sarasota, Venice, or Lakewood Ranch, the state of Florida treats our relationship with customers differently than you may be used to in your current state. In Florida, real estate agency (relationship or representation) with customers is by default termed as a "transaction brokerage relationship". A transaction broker provides a limited form of representation to a buyer or home seller, but does not represent either in a fiduciary capacity.  In other words, when you hire me to buy or sell, we do not act as a single legal entity, for which you can be sued for my actions, or I can be sued for your actions.  Transaction broker duties (which most customers expect anyway) are: Dealing honestly and fairly; Accounting for all funds (such as escrow deposits); Using skill, care, and diligence in a transaction; Disclosing all known facts that may affect the value of residential real property which may not be rea...

The South Venice beach ferry is one of Venice FL's hidden gems.  You don't have to live in South Venice to take advantage of this unique service. The ferry, a large pontoon boat, leaves from it's dock on Lemon Bay Drive, and takes passengers across the ICW to an unspoiled perserve and beach on the Gulf of Mexico.  No condos or homes spoil your view. Take a tour of the area with my exclusive HD video: The ferry is operated by the South Venice Civic Association.  There's also a boat launch, kayak launch, and fishing dock.  There's plenty of car and trailer parking for boaters, and I've never seen the parking area full, even during holidays. You can download the application forms for use of the ferry and boat launch on my website, and view a current list of South Venice FL homes for sale, at davidbarrhomes.com/south-venice-fl-homes-for-sale. Contact me with any questions, or to schedule a tour of homes for sale.

I've been saying that Zillow is a problem in the real estate business for years.  There's two reasons for this: 1) They publish inaccurate data, that the public thinks is accurate; 2) They give a platform for online exposure to Realtors who have no idea how to market themselves, so how can they market your home for sale? A recent article by the Seattle Times on January 20, 2019 ( read here ), reports that the median Zillow Zestimate has a 4.5 % error rate nationally.   That's $22,500 on a $500,000 home. Just say no to Zillow Zillow is not a licensed real estate broker in most states.  It makes it's money from agents who pay to have their head shot on their site, because it gets a lot of traffic.  Zillow does not have to follow real estate law or conform to the Realtor Code of Ethics or MLS listing rules.  If they did, they could not leave off the market or sold properties on their site, to make it appear they have as many listings are Realtor....