David Barr's Sarasota and Venice Real Estate Blog

Yesterday I drove by a real estate office that had a sign in front that really struck me as being out of the Stone Age.  The sign said "We're open and selling like crazy". For some reason that sign really rubbed me the wrong way.  Were they selling homes or used cars? I've been in the sales (I prefer to call it marketing) profession in general for over 25 years.  But I've never ever introduced myself as a "salesperson" or as being "in sales".  In my opinion , variations of the word sell are words to avoid in real estate.  No matter the age of a potential consumer, no one wants to be sold. Consumers want to be educated, presented with options and potential outcomes, and then want to come to their own conclusions without the presssure that selling connotes.  This applies to both home owners and home buyers, when working with real estate professionals. Any licensed Realtor can call themselves a "top producer" (aka salesperson or...

I have a full explanation of how short sales work for buyers of Sarasota real estate on my website, www.davidbarrhomes.com/short_sales_buyers. One of the finer points of short sales deserve a more in-depth analysis, namely, the presence of a short sale negotiator in the purchase process. A short sale negotiator can be either a licensed real estate attorney or a title agent, hired by the seller to work with their lender.  The property owner most often pays an upfront fee to their negotiator to begin the process of gathering necessary documentation to present to their lender.  They advocate on behalf of the seller by getting the lender to accept the sale of the property at current market value. Another key role of the short sale negotiator is obtaining a reduction in past due fees to a HOA or condo association is central to a successful short sale. Short sale negotiators do provide a valuable service.  However, in almost every case, the short sale negotiator will...

Parkridge is a newer gated townhome community located near the intersection of University Parkway and Lockwood Ridge in Sarasota, FL. Parkridge is a favorite of real estate investors. Full time and seasonal residents love the resort-like feel of Parkridge, with heated community pool, lush landscaping, and tranquil lake and preserve views. Take a video tour of the complex, and see what a typical bank foreclosure unit looks like here on my YouTube channel:  http://youtu.be/x4HgIhx8TCo If you are interested in investment real estate in the Sarasota area, please visit my website for specific recommendations.

I just added a new feature to my Palmer Ranch page on davidbarrhomes.com. There's a new map identifying single family home neighborhoods within Palmer Ranch.  You can click the map markers and go directly to currently available property listings from the MLS. The map feature is in addition to all single family home listings in Palmer Ranch, a slideshow tour of homes, and my exclusive Palmer Ranch Beach Meter showing distance to the closest beach, and the shortest route. I look forward to helping you with all your Palmer Ranch real estate needs.

We're fast approaching our high season, when real estate activity in the Sarasota area traditionally increases from the summer months. The increasing buyer demand for property, combined with shrinking inventory, means many buyers will likely be faced with a multiple offer situation, especially on aggressively-priced short sales and foreclosures. When this occurs, the owner's agent (private owner or a bank) will advise me as your buyer representative to present your highest and best offer.  Some banks, such as Bank of America, will require that you sign an acknowledgement that multiple offers have been received, and give you a deadline date for making your best offer. But what's a good offer when competing with other interested buyers? A good offer (highest and best) in the eyes of a bank or a property owner consists of these items: Highest offer price :  Think of the list price as a guide and try to dismiss your initial reaction to paying at or above list price....

I was working with some buyers over the past weekend who illustrated that expert real estate representation means more than just showing properties. These buyers initially had very specific criteria which significantly narrowed their choices.  One of these criteria included finding a home in a community that had a lap pool. Rather than simply showing these buyers only the types of homes they thought they wanted to see, I asked them questions and got to know what other options might satisfy their goals.  Because of my local market knowledge, I pointed out the benefits of a local YMCA, as well as a fitness facility operated by Sarasota Memorial Hospital, both of which the buyers discovered more than met their needs.  This significantly increased the buyer's potential housing options, and maximized the use of their time during their visit. Home buyers: If you are looking for an agent who can present you with a range of opportunities that will fit your goals, please...

Palmer Ranch always ranks high on buyer's wish lists because of it's proximity to Siesta Key, manicured landscape, and attractive gated communities. Here's a quick snapshot of what is happening in the Palmer Ranch real estate market from January 1 to August 7th, 2011 versus the same period in 2012.  These figures are for single family homes only: Units sold:   134 in 2012         96 in 2011 Median sold price:   $337,500  2012        $339,500  2011 Median sold price per sq ft:   $149.53  2012        $148.47  2011 List price to sold price ratio:   95% in 2012 and 2011 Days to close:   111 in 2012        134 in 2011 It appears that the real estate market in Palmer Ranch has stabilized nicely and activity has picked up significantly in 2012. You can view Palmer Ranch single family home listings and condo listings on ww...