Sarasota Florida Flat Fee MLS Listings FSBO

After reading a recent 2007 NAR (National Association of Realtors) Report on International buyers swarming Florida, you Simply MUST make this advertisting part of the campaign for your home. Due to the current strength in foreign currencies, Florida Real Estate is where most the US Real Estate appeal lies.. Read on for the Details..

During a Spring of 2007 study,  65% of Florida Realtors had conducted a transaction with an international buyer. During that same study focusing on the Realtors that had conducted a transaction with a foreign purchaser, 50% of those Realtors had represented between 1 and 4 international clients in their career. International buyers are soaking up the Florida Marketing campaigns run by leading International real estate companies. The top five countries representing this flood of buying are, Mexico, Canada, United Kingdom, India, & China. Reports show that as US purchasing of Florida real estate has slowed, the percentage of foreign purchasers has risen. This is due to current strengths of foreign currencies, in relation to a weak dollar.

Polls found that the most important reason for the Florida purchase among internationals is a vacation spot for family and friends. (Attention Sellers of Beachfront Property: Advertise Your Vacation Spot Overseas..)

The median sales price for the international buyer was $299,500 in 2007 (note this is higher budget than the average US resident spending on Florida Resident), and the majority of these deals were financed through a conventional mortage.

The typical International Buyer spends, on average, 4.2 months per year in their United States property. International buyers of Florida Real Estate show a balanced preference between single-family homes and condominiums.

According to another 2007 NAR Poll, China seems to be spending on average $340,000 on their vacation home, representing the most costly average among foreign countries purchasing Florida Real Estate. The UK runs a close second place, spending on average $322,000.

International buying of Real Estate has increased due to currency conversion advantages. When choosing a broker to help you sell your home, talk to the Realtor about their International Campaigs. Feel Free to talk to Shirley International Realty Inc. about how they can assist you in promoting your home overseas.

Justin

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I watched this program just yesterday on HGNet TV, and thought about the downfalls many buyers and sellers go through in the Home Selling Process.. I think this is really good information to pass on to my ”For Saley By Owner” sellers (as well as buyers), to re-iterate the need for a real estate specialist. All of these mistakes can be eliminated with great real estate advice. Shirley International Realty Inc. would like to assist you in hurdling these mistakes by offering our professional marketing/consulting services. Here goes the list, in no particular order, of how they appeared on the program.

10-Not Providing Easy Access to Showings-

In a buyers market, there are many selections. If your home isn’t easily accessible for buyers at any time, you may get skipped a lose a big opportunity to sell your home. Be really flexible with buyers interested in previewing your home. Sellers need every opporunity to put their home in front of as many buyers as possible. 

9-Losing Money With Auctions-

While starting an auction is a great process to attract traffic to your home, it doesn’t necessarily mean the final price is going to be congruent with what you wanted out of the sale. Don’t get caught giving your home away through the auction process.

8-Trying to Make the “Hard Sell” while Showing-

If you are holding an Open House, or have buyers previewing your property at any time, don’t be in the home selling it while the buyers are trying to preview. This is very annoying and can get in the way of your property selling itself.. Buyers know what they are looking for and won’t let themselves be “Sold” anything. Relax and let them experience the amenities of your home. They will appreciate the privacy you award them.

7-Waiting Until Spring to Sell Your House-

Timing is everything; however, it doesn’t mean you can’t highlight the seasonal amenities of your home at any time. Real Estate is bought and sold 365 days a year. Don’t wait for the right time. The time is now!

6-Failing to Market Your Home in Different Ways-

The for sale sign in the front yard looks great; however, marketing and advertising your home now needs to take a global approach. The Internet provides different campaigns that promote your home well. (Shirley International Realty specializes in Internet Promotions for your Home! We are the best at this)

5-Not Thinking about Resale -

The average home is bought and sold once every 5 years. If you are not planning on being buried in this home, consider how the cosmetic changes you are making to the home will affect the value when its time to sell.

4-Trusting Everything a Real Estate Advertisment Says-

Physically visit the property before making the purchase. Many sellers and brokers will promote the home in a way that’s completely correct just to attract traffic. Also, follow the old adage, “if its too good to be true, then it probably is”.

3-Picking the Wrong Agent-

Meetings with your real estate agent need to be held the same way you were when interviewing for a big job. Ask plenty of questions and ask for a resume of statistics showing the creditials a particular agent has making them worthy of brokering the biggest investment of your life. When you sell with a certain agent, you are selling under their brand. Make sure you approve of that brand.

2-Not Hiring an Agent-

You need the experience of a real estate agent. 84% of homes sold in 2006 had touched a real estate professionals hands at some point. They work everyday to sell homes and understand the “ins and outs” of the industry. Working with a great real estate agent can save you money, liability, and time in the buying and selling process.  

1-Doing Major Renovations/Remodeling Before Selling-

Putting too much money into your home before selling trying to increase the value, could result in “overimprovements”. Take care of cosmetic touch ups, and let the home sell itself. Allow homeowners to improve it to their liking later on, or offer a discount on the price (also known as allowance) to give you a competitive advantage over other sellers.

 Of all these principle mistakes, I would say picking the wrong agent to sell your home would be the most critical. The real estate market is slow, so its paramount to have an aresenal of tools that will highlight your home in a positive light for the world to see. With Shirley International Realty you are going to receive maximum marketing exposure, coupled with your transaction handled professionally & delicately. We love our customers and want to help in any way we can. Talk to Shirley International Realty about how we can sell your home!

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I grew up in a small town in Southwestern Virginia, never exposed to Siesta Key’s powder-sanded beach, breathtaking sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico, tanning poolside on New Years Day listening to Jimmy Buffet, & playing golf all year with no concern for cold temperatures. Instead, I grew accustomed to shoveling snow 3 months out of the year & finding the best deals on 7 lb. jackets for cold windy days. Virginia is absolutely beautiful & a place where I always call home, but Sarasota, Florida is nothing short of paradise. Below is a list of major publications that agree with me. When I promote Florida Real Estate overseas, I communicate these accolades to drive interest to this Florida Bliss.

- December 23, 2002- City Magazine promotes Sarasota as “Top 100 US Cities to Live”

- Travel Channel 2003- Promotes Siesta Key, “America’s Best Beach”. They Comment, “Relaxing is easy on Siesta Key; sand soft and white as sugar, brilliant sunshine and azure waters abound. But be prepared — with so much to see and do, it’s almost impossible to lie idle on this island!”

-Expansion Magazine Management- “Sarasota/Bradenton 5-Star Blue Ribbon Community Ranking”

-May 10, 2002- CNN/Money Magazine- Sarasota is 1 of only 8 cities voted “Best Places to Retire”

-June 2000 & AGAIN 2001- Employment Magazine- Sarasota “Top 20 Best Places to Live & Work”

-Entrepenuer Magazine- Sarasota voted 6th “Best City to Run a Small Business”

-Money Magazine- Votes Sarasota “Top 100 Best School Systems in the US”

-Money Magazine- Votes Sarasota/Bradenton 21st “Best Place to Live in the US” (I think Money Magazine has a crush on Sarasota..)

-New Business Opportunity Index- Votes Sarasota 7th among 316 “Most Influential Metropolitan Areas to affect Business Climate”

Here are a few accolades that note Sarasota to be an amazing place to live. We are in a league of our own here. The economy is slow and real estate is specifically, but people want to be here and that makes us a bit more immune to distressed National real estate conditions. These awards and recognitions are important to keep in mind when promoting your Florida property nationwide. I will continue to promote Sarasota in this light, especially internationally, to help bring traffic to my listings.

Talk to me about how Shirley International Realty Inc. can promote your home to attract buyers!

(Siesta Key/Crescent Beach Looking Like a Tropical Oasis.. Makes Me Re-think Working)

Justin

3 Comments »

 The only thing I go into a frenzy over, besides selling your home, is The Masters.. I played collegiate golf, and tend to get a little twitch in my neck when I don’t get to swing a golf club in a given 7-day period. So, being this week is Masters Week, my TV is tuned in to live coverage from Augusta all day. Looks like today has started off pretty strong for guys like Zach Johnson, defending champion, Phil Mickelson’s making a late first day move, & of course, we’ll never count Tiger out.. He’s even par today (as I’m writing this but he hasn’t finished yet) without a blemish on his card, so it will be interesting to see how the weekend unfolds..

 Keeping the Real Estate theme tied in to Masters Week, I think its only appopriate that we see Tiger Woods homesteaded residence, and dig into his Real Estate portfolio..

Here’s an aerial shot of his Jupiter home.. Reportedly purchasing for a cool $38 million..

 Just the taxes on this property sets Tiger back about $640,000/year! (And you thought you’re property taxes were a bit steep)..

This Waterfront compound boasts 10-acres! The listing agent, Andre Bourssa who sold this home to Tiger notes, “We have not had any home even close on Jupiter Island close for this much”.

Wood’s new estate is directly across the Intracoastal Waterway from golfer and friend of Tiger, Jesper Parnevick. The home was recorded as a “done deal” when it was recorded in the county tax records as titled to ETW Corp., Tiger’s Corporation. (Tiger’s reeping the benefits of the tax advantages by naming this estate in his corporation.. That Tiger’s a savvy buyer!) Below is another pic of this property.. A Masters Check this week will help polish off that tax bill coming in November..

 The property includes four houses - the main house, two houses for guests and a beach house - as well as two boat docks to accommodate his 47-metre yacht, Privacy.

Apart from the new Florida residence, Woods also owns property in California, Bahamas, Wyoming and Sweden, his wife’s home country.

He is the world’s highest-earning athlete.

Last year he made $128 million in endorsements and prizemoney, earning $33 million from Nike alone

Here’s a shot of his Paradise Island, Bahamas Home..

Not sure about that blue boat/dingy posted up by the seawall.. Tiger’s caddie Stevie must’ve cruised over to say hi..

Back to reality.. I love the Masters and hope Tiger plays well.. As far as his real estate, I’m sending him a letter welcoming him to Jupiter Island (even though I don’t live there and he’s already been there for a while) and letting him know, I have a great deal if he wants to flip this place.. A Flat Fee Listing will put him on Jupiters MLS and get him maximum Exposure!! Even he can’t say no.. He titled that Jupiter purchase in his corporation’s name.. The guy knows how to save money and can’t refuse a great deal! 

Justin

1 Comment »

One of the biggest hurdles a Sarasota or Bradenton homeseller must leap over, is the avenue they must take to get their home sold.. It is common knowledge that a Realtor can be very expensive (@ 6-7%), but is there value in their service, AND what is that value worth? Well, as you all know, I am the biggest cheerleader for the Flat Fee MLS Listing Service.. I know this service gives the homeowner maximum exposure on their home, and also allows them to engage in a relationship with a Licensed Realtor that can advise them through the process, WHILE saving them money at the closing table.. However, many Flat Fee companies are not congruent with my policy of holding the sellers hand throughout the selling process.. They accept the upfront fee for listing the seller on the MLS, then the Realtor walks away and like a bull in a China shop, goes aggressively after the next Flat Fee listing. This is not how Shirley International Realty Inc. operates.. We stick around.. We are always on call and feel its our fiduciary duty to assist the seller in everything from, making price adjustments to give the MLS listing a new facia, to having open-ended conversations by phone on what the market is doing.. We are well-rounded real estate consultants that do not bail on our Flat Fee Sellers.. Below is a NAR (National Association of Realtors) statistical analysis that shows, a little Realtor assistance is a good thing.. Ya just have to get that assistance from the right place (Shirley International Realty Inc. is the PERFECT place)..

Did you know? In 2006 the average FSBO sold their home for $187,200 compared to $247,000 on an agent-assisted transaction.. (With our Flat Fee Listing Service we help coordinate pricing on your home and advertise it in the highest traffic real estate marketing venues, bringing more demand and garnering higher prices)

Most Difficult Tasks for FSBO Sellers:
Getting the right price . . . 11% (We are experts @ establishing market value for your home & will help you do this)
Understanding paperwork . . . 16% (We teach you the contracts/disclosures needed to sale your home, reducing the liability of a negligent transaction)
Preparing/fixing up home for sale . . . 18% (We will introduce you to the best Handymans’ & home inspectors in Sarasota/Bradenton)
Attracting potential buyers . . . 9% (Our Marketing for the Flat Fee of $199 is all the “Butter you need for the Bread” to attract multiple buyers)
Having enough time to devote to all aspects of the sale . . . 9% (Your life is busy.. Shirley International Realty Inc. can take this stress out of your day..)

 Top 5 Websites where REALTORS® place their listings:

 Realtor.com (82%)

 Local Realty Firm Website (76%)

 Local REALTOR® Association Website (50%)

 Franchiser’s Website (30%)

 Broker IDX/Broker Reciprocity Website (29%)

The above percentages represent 72% of the traffic generated to sell your home with a full service listing agent (Charging you 6-7%).. We will list your Home on all of these sites for the $199.. You need this exposure.. Its that simple..

There’s no other way to sell your home in any market, than the Flat Fee MLS Listing.. We are Southwest Florida’s #1 Provider of Flat Fee MLS Listings.. Our service is unparalleled, unbeatable, unmatched, the best, second to none, over-the-top, #1, distant from #2, uncomparable, the cookie not the crumb, & the finest while still getting refined.. We can help you.. Give me a call for anything.. 941-448-4872 (I even know the best babysitters if you need one.. :))

Justin

2 Comments »

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“Selling Your Home is No Stress…. When You List on MLS”

We are Florida’s #1 Provider of Over-the-top Flat Fee MLS Services!

$199 Flat Fee MLS Listing.. Agents and Buyers will contact you directly..

-Listed on Your Correct Local MLS
(Example of Listing View PDF Sample)
-Listed on Realtor.com Enhanced and Upgraded
(Example of Listing View PDF Sample)
-Listing Posted to All High-Traffic Shirley Int. Realty Websites
-Professional photography
-Agent on Call 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
-Comparable Market Analysis
-Listing stays active Until Property Sells 
-Cancel anytime
-YOU set the Buyers Agent Commission!
-Limited Service Listing Agreement (Copy of Contract View PDF)
-Make As Many Changes As You Need too FREE OF CHARGE (Many Flat Fee Companies Charge Sellers Everytime They Want to Make A Change to Their Listing.. We Do Not.. Let’s Keep Your Listing the Way You Want it Throughout The Entire Duration of Your Flat Fee Listing Experience with Shirley International)
-Your Home Will Stay Active Until Your Property Sells! Many Flat Fee Listers Post a Expiration Date to your listing.. With Shirley International Realty Inc., we will keep your listing active until it sells, or until you asked to be removed!

We offer Professional Yard Signs, Lockboxes, Virtual Tours, Access to Our Mortgage Company, Real Estate Attorneys, Inspectors, & Contracts & Disclosures for a Complete Sale with No Agent Involved..

We Want to Help You Sell Your Home..

941-448-4872

2 Comments »

 After running my search of new listings and closed transactions for the Sarasota market I see a big improvement in sales volume. I have been swamped with buyer traffic myself, and it seems that the market as a whole is experiencing the same trend. The only trend that will keep our property values from appreciating at this point is, the effect of buyers swarming the market and sellers seeing an opportunity to list quickly in hopes of a quick sale. In short, the more statistics that show “buy volume” going up, the more sellers pour into the market and see an opportunity to sale. I feel this will continue for some time until we can get this distressed inventory off the market (Foreclosures, short sales, bank owned REO/Loss Mitigation, etc.). Many sellers have pulled their homes off the market temporarily because of the lost cause due to buyer reluctancy; however, with months like March, sellers are coming back to the market. Here’s a look at the closed transactions in Sarasota County, plus Lakewood Ranch and University Park (Manatee County areas but readily shopped by Sarasota buyers).. Again, my numbers reflect MLS data only and closed transactions only.

Single Family Homes - 233

Condominium - 137

Multi-Family (Duplexes, Triplexes, etc) - 1

Lots & Acreage - 5

As you can see, this number is up quite a bit from Feb. and January. We had great weather and nice flow of seasonal vacationers that turned into buyers. Sarasota is easy to fall in love with once you sink your toes into the sand of Siesta Key and soak in that Florida sun. I attribute this spike to tourism as well the Federal Government cutting rates making mortgage interest less harsh on the weak dollar & our slow economy. However, let’s take a look at how many homes entered the market.. This number reflects new listings posted to MLS during the month of March.

Single-Family Homes - 766 (Not a typo..)

Condominium - 428

Multi-Family - 8

Lots/Acreage - 59

As you can see buying is up, but so is the number of sellers looking to bail out of their financial ties to their properties. Positively, we’re seeing more buyers floating around our open houses. I expect a strong April, as the market will slow down a bit as we enter summer. But, let’s not discount the fact that Europeans and the international market take strong interest in our Florida real estate during the summer months.

 Justin

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This is a little “Tid-Bit” on how to Sell Your Home in a Down Market.. If you’re not getting interest in your home, there may be a few things going on.. However, the most important thing is to notice your price.. Real Estate is not as valueable as it was 2 years ago during our boom, (more like an explosion) so its very important to get real about the value of your home.. Most of the time, correcting your price will cure lack of activity. I feel the most intelligent strategy to pricing your home correclty is to pay an appraiser $200-300 to tell you the value of your home.. They are objective and unemotional. This could save you many future headaches and stress as to why no one wants to even see the inside of your listing.

This video will show you how to generate interest through the Auction process and let the bidding process drive the price to market value.. Everyone shopping for a home right is looking for a deal.. Show a deal to this real estate market, and stay by the phone.. Holding an auction can be a litte intimidating, but you don’t need an auctioneer with an incredibly fast voice to sell your home through this process.. Notice in the video how a simple classified ad created the craze of demand.. I also think posting classified ads on the internet (craigslist, ebay, etc) can help create interest.. You have a home someone wants to buy.. You just have to find creative ways to get it in front of them.. Let me know if you have any questions.. My internet marketing skills are how I sell my listings quickly.. I am willing to teach you..

Justin

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