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  • The Neighborhood Report - Venice Island

    John Butzko 2:14 am on March 11, 2010 | Comments:0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: buyers, , , ,

    A stroll along the storefronts along Venice Avenue on Venice Island.

    People love to live on and visit downtown Venice—located on Venice Island—where they find a small town atmosphere with plenty to see and do. Here, there is an active center of town where you can stroll down Venice Avenue and enjoy the shops and outside cafes, just a breath away from beautiful area beaches. Convenience is key, as one can ride a bike or walk to most places of interest on Venice Island.

    Market Activity – Venice Island

    In the past 30 days, 17 properties sold and 58 have gone under contract on Venice Island, according to Venice office branch manager Kathy Wood. Recently, Venice office agents Jo-Anne Sckowska and Nell Taylor worked with a vacationing couple who wanted a condominium to use as a vacation place for now and eventually move into. All the properties that met their criteria were in different areas off the island, and Jo-Anne and Nell could tell the homebuyers weren’t very enthusiastic about them. So, the team suggested they view a listing across from the beach with a nice side Gulf view. This listing was a bit dated and needed updating, but was near where they were staying and convenient to all of downtown’s charms. As they walked in and looked out the window at the wonderful view, they were able to overlook the updating needs. They wrote a contract for cash on this island condominium and will go to closing very soon. (More …)

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  • Top 10 Tips for New Homebuyers

    John Butzko 3:44 pm on March 2, 2010 | Comments:0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: buyers, , , ,

    Work with professionals to avoid purchasing a home too small for your family.

    Buying your first home is the realization of the American Dream. This exciting, overwhelming and even frightening experience brings an array of emotions brought upon by feelings of achievement, apprehension and joy–all wrapped into the walled and roofed structure you now call home.

    To make the most of this life-enhancing event, you need to be sure that every step you take is in the right direction and with your best interests in mind. Before you sign those closing papers, there are many things to consider. To help you along, here are the top 10 tips for new homebuyers who plan to get the most from their first home: (More …)

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  • Special Teams

    Michael Saunders & Company 5:34 pm on February 11, 2010 | Comments:0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: brokerage affiliations, buyers, , CMA, EREN, featured listings, , , , , , , MSC Marketing, MSC Technology, , , Super Bowl

    There’s nothing like a major upset in a riveting Super Bowl to remind us how important teamwork, preparation, focus and the right attitude are.  After all, strip away the hype and hoopla.   Skip the big-name entertainment, talking heads, pre-game interviews and trash-talking press conferences; and the Super Bowl ultimately drills down to which team shows up with enough heart to win.  For doing just that, and winning it’s first-ever championship, we congratulate the New Orleans Saints along with every faithful fan from the “Who Dat Nation.”

    The business of selling your home in today’s real estate market is one of life’s biggest Super Bowl events, requiring as much teamwork, preparation and focus as pro football’s premier match-up; but with no fumbles, interceptions or penalties allowed.  When you list your property with the team from Michael Saunders & Company, your quest for the ideal outcome is actually heightened through the combined efforts of several special teams within a team.  Their common goal?  To sell your home as quickly, efficiently—and as uneventfully—as possible; for as much as today’s market will allow.

    Sending in our special teams on your behalf begins with the preparation of a thorough Competitive Market Analysis (or CMA).  A timely and well-documented CMA shows exactly how your home stacks up against its competition; and how it must be priced to become an instant must-see for buyers in its competitive set.  If necessary, the special team from MSC Style can step-in to make sure your home looks and shows to maximum advantage through a number of recommendations proven to help a home sell faster.

    Once ready for the market, the special teams from MSC Marketing and MSC Technology swing into action to make sure your home is properly showcased and presented to as many potential buyers as possible.  Now that nine out of ten buyers start their property searches on the Internet the logical first step, of course, is to upload your property’s complete listing information onto michaelsaunders.com, by far the # 1 trafficked web site in Southwest Florida.   No other company in Southwest Florida has invested more time, money or talent into making sure that ours is at once the easiest to access, easiest to use and most information-packed real estate Web site in the region, if not the country.

    If you opt—as many of today’s sellers do—to price your home aggressively below competitive properties, it becomes immediately eligible to appear in the Best Opportunities section of michaelsaunders.com.  Because Best Opportunities is routinely visited and re-visited by today’s most value-conscious buyers, its featured listings average well over 500 showings per property.  Moreover, since debuting last May, 41% of the 812 listings that have appeared in the section have sold.

    Additionally, your property listing is uplinked to more than 2,000 other local, regional, national and international web sites for additional exposure to buyers everywhere.

    On the local front, with more than 550 agents working from 16 strategically-located sales offices, the ground team at Michael Saunders & Company is uniquely capable of capturing buyers wherever they happen to show-up first.  Many of these agents will preview your property during the company’s weekly caravan of new properties.  Here they actually visit the home in person to assess its potential compatibility with the housing needs of their extensive databases of buyers.

    On a much broader scale, our worldwide brokerage affiliations—strategic alliances formed over nearly four decades and strengthened by Michael Saunders’ continuous top-level involvement with each—are another way we make sure your home is systematically exposed to the most potential buyers.  These affiliations include Christie’s Great Estates, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, Luxury Portfolio, EREN—The European Real Estate Network, Luxuryrealestate.com and Mayfair International Realty.

    It goes without saying that each offer received on your home is formally presented to you; then skillfully negotiated until one is accepted and a contract approved by both parties.  During this critical phase of the sale, two more special teams are prepared to go to work for you.   MSC Mortgage smoothes the way to a closed sale by pre-qualifying buyers for the safest and best loan products available on the market today.  Meanwhile, the team from MSC Title makes sure that all title issues are carefully researched and examined to assure free and clear title to the property.  If your immediate needs are best served through the “short sale” process, our MSC Short Sale Division puts a team of experienced short sale negotiators in your corner.

    Our market has at long last experienced months of positive and sustained buyer activity.   If your 2010 game plan includes selling your home, invite an agent from Michael Saunders & Company to explain how listing it with the # 1 real estate team in Southwest Florida will put a new owner inside faster than you can say “Who dat?”

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  • The Buyers’ Choice

    Michael Saunders & Company 4:49 pm on January 29, 2010 | Comments:1 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , buyers, , homes, international brokerage affiliations, , ,

    If selling your home or condominium is high on your agenda in 2010 here are some important facts you should know.

    Any licensed brokerage is capable of listing your property.  But only one is the undisputed leader in finding buyers for homes on Longboat Key. Michael Saunders & Company.

    The proof is in the performance.  Based on dollar volume sales over the past 12 months—as recorded by the Mid Florida MLS and published by the leading independent real estate tracking firm TRENDGRAPHIX—agents from Michael Saunders & Company bring buyers to Longboat Key property sales nearly twice as often as their next closest competitor.

    As the below bar graphs depict, this phenomenon holds true across all price ranges; but becomes noticeably more dramatic as the price range increases.  For properties $1 million and up, our agents furnish buyers more often than our next four closest competitors combined.

    Before you list your Longboat Key property, contact an agent from Michael Saunders & Company.   Find out how the region’s largest network of top-producing agents, its most heavily-frequented Web site and unparalleled network of international brokerage affiliations will help you succeed in finding a buyer faster.  After all, isn’t that what selling your home is all about?

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  • The Neighborhood Report – Village Green

    John Butzko 3:44 pm on January 26, 2010 | Comments:0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , buyers, ,

    Well-manicured fairways adorn Village Green's golf course.

    Village Green is a prime neighborhood in the city of Bradenton, Florida, with 1,001 residences consisting of 575 freestanding single-family homes and 426 villa condominiums. Many of the condominium sections include community swimming pools among their amenities, and winding paths and tranquil lakes highlight the beautiful, lush surrounds.

    Bounded on the north by 7th Avenue West, on the south by 29th Avenue West, on the east by 63rd Street West and on the west by 75th Street West, Village Green enjoys a convenient location close to area shopping and medical services. The sparkling waters of Palma Sola Bay are only three blocks away, and the beautiful beaches on the Gulf of Mexico are a short three-mile drive.

    Recent Sales Activity – Village Green

    In the last 60 days, there have been seven sales in Village Green, with an average sales price of $156,992. Of the seven residences sold, five were single-family homes and two were villa condominiums.

    Agent Kudos – Selling Village Green

    Bradenton office agents Kathy Valente and Ally Howell have recently sold a home in Village Green to customers from out of the area. According to Ally, “They buyers fell in love with the home due to the great condition and gorgeous greenbelt view.”

    7405 7th W Ave - This 3BR villa is available in Village Green. Listed by Kathy Valente.

    The buyers were familiar with Village Green since they have family in the area, so they searched for homes online, where they also located Kathy and Ally for assistance in finding the right property. The residence purchased was a two-bedroom villa condominium with a two-car garage and approximately 2,100 square feet and sold for $136,000.

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  • Stay Connected – Top 10 Real Estate iPhone Apps

    John Butzko 4:00 pm on January 14, 2010 | Comments:0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: buyers, , ,

    Simplify your real estate experience with the right apps.

    In today’s fast-paced, interconnected business environment, smart phones have become an important way of life for savvy professionals. From advanced GPS capabilities to informative home buying and selling programs, there are a number of highly intuitive iPhone applications (apps) to help anyone navigate through a real estate transaction easier than before.

    Here are the top 10 real estate themed apps for iPhone users:

    1. Around Me - This free app shows you a complete list of all the businesses in the category you have tapped on along with the distance from where you are. For every listing you can choose to see its location on a map, view the route from where you are, add the information to your contact list or even email the information to a friend.

    2. Morgulator - When searching for a new home, a mortgage calculator is a must-have. This app gives you the usual mortgage information based on interest rate, term and downpayment. Just .99.

    3. Home Tracker -  When shopping for homes, you’ll easily lose track of all the properties you’ve toured or researched. Home Tracker keeps track for you. Store information on each property such as address, ZIP code, price and size; add notes; take photos; rate the property condition, location and appeal; star your favorites; map the property. Priced at just $4.99. (More …)

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  • Ask Amy - What Are The Advantages Of Building Your Own Home?

    Holli Schleicher 5:35 pm on January 12, 2010 | Comments:0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Builders, buyers, , Home Builders, , New Homes, ,

    Amy Drake, director of our New Homes & Condominiums division, discusses the benefits of building your own home. Discover the advantages of personalizing your place, from choosing floor coverings and designing your own lifestyle to “going green.”

    To view video, please click here.

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  • Looking Ahead – Top 10 Real Estate New Year’s Resolutions

    John Butzko 3:19 pm on January 7, 2010 | Comments:0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: buyers, , , , , , ,

    2010: Your year to get the most from the real estate market.

    As the page on our calendars turned to the fresh slate of 2010, Americans are starting to plan what will be a priority for them when it comes to real estate. Exciting things are happening in the market, and the next few months will bring an unprecedented number of opportunities and possibilities for the heads-up buyer or seller.

    While existing homeowners and potential homebuyers experience different situations and needs in regards to their future goals and expectations, we present the top 10 possible New Year resolutions to help point some in the right direction for a successful 2010 in real estate:

    1. Get in the Game – Join the nearly 18 percent of Americans who say they’ve resolved to become a first-time homebuyer in 2010, according to a new survey HERE.  With the homebuyer tax credit extension running until April 2010, this is an exceptional time to get in the game and become a homeowner. (More …)

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  • The Neighborhood Report – Plantation Golf & Country Club

    John Butzko 2:49 pm on January 5, 2010 | Comments:2 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: buyers, , , ,

    Our Plantation office is ready to assist homebuyers and sellers throughout the area.

    Plantation Golf & Country Club in Venice was open for business with the completion of the Bobcat golf course in 1981. The Plantation added the second 18-hole Panther golf course in 1991 to complete the Ron Garl-designed 36 holes of championship golf. The courses feature two distinctively different layouts, providing challenging play and a rewarding golf experience at every level.

    The Plantation community consists of 1,300 acres and is approaching its build-out plan of 2,800 homes. Club membership is not restricted to residents of the community. Plantation offers a friendly yet refined atmosphere of comfortable elegance and first-class amenities, which include 13 Har-Tru lighted tennis courts, a heated junior-Olympic size swimming pool, a spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a grand clubhouse with the ambiance and charm of “Old Florida.” Plantation was voted “Best Private Country Club,” “Best Banquet Facilities” and “Best Tennis Facilities” by the Herald Tribune’s Reader’s Choice Awards. Plantation Golf & Country Club is very proud to have been selected to host the LPGA Annual Tour Qualifying School since 1987, one of only two qualifying schools in the nation. And, the Bobcat and Panther courses are included in the Golf Digest’s Places to Play Directory. (More …)

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  • The New Normal

    Michael Saunders & Company 10:08 am on December 31, 2009 | Comments:0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: buyers, , first-time homebuyer credit, , , , , real estate industry, , , unemployment

    Across virtually every segment of the economy, 2009 sputtered-in as miserably as 2008 sputtered-out.  Yet in spite of its many challenges, the past year showed that it’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.  For if the experiences of 2009 taught us nothing else, we learned that true professionals united in common cause can truly make good things happen.

    That’s how agents from Michael Saunders & Company helped re-awaken the region’s comatose housing market in 2009.  United in purpose and armed with statistics to prove the point—they were able to educate sellers to the new realities of a market in which competitive pricing is key.  Of course, it never hurts that ours remains Florida’s top destination for a lifestyle rich in world-class cultural and recreational amenities.

    With corrected prices now the accepted norm and the popular first-time homebuyer tax credit renewed for another six months, buyers have rushed in and put the market on the fast track to stability.  They’ve driven up year-over-year the number of home sales by as much as 63 percent, according to the most recent monthly MLS sales recap for November.   As a company, Michael Saunders & Company is proud to announce that our agents finished 2009 with over $1 Billion in closed dollar volume and exceeded our 2008 production.  It took 30 percent more transactions to accomplish this uphill feat, but lowered prices proved the catalyst by which buyers were finally heartened to return to the market.

    Even as the S&P 500 gained over 69% from its annual low, holiday sales rose and the consumer confidence index improved over 40% in 2009, economists are dubbing 2010 a “Tabletop” year for the real estate industry.  This means that having clawed its way back to a sustained level of sales activity, our market will continue in something of a horizontal recovery; without any major setbacks or much in the way of noticeable price appreciation, until the job market picks up and the inventory of properties—especially foreclosures—drops off. With unemployment showing signs of slowing, we are beginning to see the impact of our stimulus dollars at work.

    (More …)

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