Posted by Michael Saunders & Company on June 17, 2010
Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club
If you could position a glass dome over Lakewood Ranch—inclusive of such nearby neighborhoods as Greyhawk Landing and Heritage Harbour—you would have on exhibit a near-perfect microcosm of our region’s accelerating real estate recovery. For within this award-winning community and its many unique neighborhoods, buyers have scooped up the best-priced properties to such an extent that inventories of available homes have been pared down to levels that are at, near—or below—those typically considered normal in a balanced market. Moreover, they are confidently cherry-picking properties across all price ranges, so long as real value is at the core of every transaction.
As a matter of fact, based on the current pace of existing home sales in Lakewood Ranch—especially for properties priced below $150,000, below $300,000 or below $500,000—less than a four month supply is available for purchase in all three of these price ranges. Similarly, for homes priced from $500,000 to $1 million less than a six-month supply is available. Properties priced above $1 million have yet to re-establish a healthy balance—typically defined in the industry as a six to seven month supply, based on the rate of current sales. Yet with its supply now down to less than ten months, even the market for $1 million-plus homes in Lakewood Ranch is approaching equilibrium. Moreover, across all price ranges, less than a five month supply of properties is on hand. (Source: Trendgraphix, June 2010). Although it will be a very long time before sellers see prices rivaling those of 2004/2005, technically speaking Lakewood Ranch is on the threshold of becoming a sellers’ market again.
To pinpoint precisely how dramatically the Lakewood Ranch market has improved, one need only compare today’s level of inventory to that of two years ago when sales were painfully sluggish. Across all price ranges, the inventory has been drawn down from 958 properties in May 2008, to 341 properties in May 2010; a decline of over 64%. The number of properties priced below $500,000 has dropped by 61%; and those between $500,000 and $1 million by 71%. Even the inventory of properties priced above $1 million is down by 68%.
Posted by Michael Saunders & Company on May 27, 2010
International buyers have always had a soft spot in their heart for Florida; particularly it’s fabulously cultured West Coast. Not a day goes by that we don’t hear a foreign language—or heavily-accented English—being spoken in close proximity to wherever we happen to be. For this reason, we have gone to great lengths at Michael Saunders & Company to court the international buyer throughout our 35 years of service to the region. We never take lightly the fact that a buyer from England, Canada or the European continent may be just as inclined to buy one of our sellers’ properties as someone from Michigan, Indiana or New Jersey.
Right now in particular, international interest in owning properties here has never been more intense. Maybe it’s our bottoming home prices, the lowest in ten years. Maybe it’s our current mortgage lending rates, the lowest in 50 years. Maybe it’s the fact that the financial turmoil sweeping through the European continent reminds its citizens yet again that America—in spite of its economic ups and downs—is still the safest haven on earth to invest money. Then again, maybe it’s the weather.
Whatever their reason for coming to Southwest Florida, we have long cultivated formalized brokerage affiliations in countries throughout the world whose citizens display a particular fondness for wanting to be here. These exclusive affiliations include such internationally renowned real estate networks as Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, Luxury Portfolio, Christie’s Great Estates, Mayfair International Realty and the European Real Estate Network (or EREN); which are made that much more powerful through Michael Saunders’ active involvement in many of their governing bodies. The end result is a steady stream of customers being constantly referred to Michael Saunders & Company because our network partners can be confident they will receive the individualized service and special attention they need.
Posted by Michael Saunders & Company on April 8, 2010
Image courtesy of floridarealtors.org
Look for balloons flying in neighborhoods all across the region this Sunday to signify one of the biggest open house parties Florida will ever see. To offer home buyers the convenience of touring dozens of different homes in a single timesaving weekend, the Florida Association of Realtors is hosting this weekend’s first-ever Florida Open House Weekend.
Tens of thousands of homes across the state are open for viewing this Sunday, April 11th with at least 175 of them listed locally by agents of Michael Saunders & Company. Many of the homes are pictured here. The rest can be previewed by visiting michaelsaunders.com. All are open Sunday—from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m—and marked by blue balloons.
Anyone interested in purchasing a home in the near future—perhaps even before the first time home buyer tax credit expires—should not miss this opportunity to preview and compare many different properties on a single day.
With less than three weeks remaining to earn the tax credit, you will find yourself in something of a sprint to cross the finish line. But getting in under the wire is still do-able if you place a home under contract by April 30th; and have cash or financing in place to meet the June 30th deadline for closing. To learn if you qualify for the tax credit, visit Realtor.org.
Here in the Sunshine State, the months of spring bring a return to the balmy afternoons and cool, breezy evenings that make our corner of the nation a cherished vacation destination. Flowers bloom, lush emerald grasses replace our dry yellow lawns, area beaches crowd with sun and water worshipers, and flip-flops and shorts reclaim their relevance in our casual, everyday wardrobes. But, as the mercury gradually rises to reach the sultry temperatures that complement the months of summer, so do the costs of keeping your home cool.
Luckily, you can cut your electric bills significantly by following these 10 energy-saving cooling tips this summer:
1. Become a Fan – While a ceiling fan won’t make your room cooler, it will definitely make it feel cooler by circulating the air and speeding sweat evaporation. Plus, ceiling fans cost far less to run than your air conditioner. If your home doesn’t already have ceiling fans, they aren’t very expensive and can be installed rather easily.
2. Wear Shades – White window shades, drapes or blinds work to reflect heat away from your home. On a sweltering summer day, the sun is your enemy when trying to keep your home cool. So, be sure to close the blinds, shades and draperies that face the sun (east-facing windows in the morning and west-facing windows in the afternoon) to keep the direct heat out and help fans or air conditioners cool more efficiently. (more…)
The Lake Club is an exclusive Lakewood Ranch neighborhood for those seeking the finer things in life. Greeted by its own private vineyards and sounds of water fountains, you are lead to an unprecedented lifestyle of luxury, privacy and exclusivity within this master-planned neighborhood. Meticulous attention has been developed within the 1,500 acres to exceed the highest standards for construction, energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.
Market Activity – The Lake Club
At this time, there are 33 homes built and seven are under construction. Homebuyers have taken notice of the charms presented by The Lake Club. There are currently 15 active listings. In the past 30 days, two homes have sold and two homes have gone under contract. When complete, The Lake Club will include approximately 1,000 homes, all of which enhanced by the community’s well-manicured grounds.
Why Buyers Choose The Lake Club
A magnificent 16,000-square-foot, $10 million grand clubhouse is the crowning jewel of The Lake Club and provides residents a resort lifestyle all year around. A gorgeous tapestry of parks and interweaving picturesque lakes create the overall landscape design, layered with a rich canvas of Italian cypress, Medjool date palms, live oaks, and floral components such as bougainvillea and rose bushes. This stunning landscape blends in uniquely with the community’s cobblestone streets, stonework fountains, magnificent bridges and custom estate homes, which capture the elegance of European Old World charm.
New Homes & Condominiums director Amy Drake discusses why an over supply of inventory and lowering prices make this a great time to buy new construction in real estate.
To see our complete collection of videos, click here.
If you have questions for Michael Saunders, email AskMichael@michaelsaunders.com.
Posted by Michael Saunders & Company on December 31, 2009
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.
Posted by Michael Saunders & Company on December 22, 2009
Celebrating the holidays in a tough economy is enough to unleash the inner Scrooge in all of us. It’s disheartening for many of us to not be able to give to our loved ones in the abundance we’re accustomed to.
Happily though, even the darkest cloud has a silver lining. This year’s harsh economic climate, though by all accounts improving steadily as we hurl headlong into 2010, affords each of us the priceless opportunity to reconnect with the true meaning of the holidays and the spirit of giving.
Just before Christmas, we came across an emotional gift guide authored by Jack Levine—founder of the 4Generations Institute in Tallahassee and one of Florida’s best-known child advocates who was named Floridian of the Year in 1990. It lists 20 intangible gifts to give to those who deserve special recognition for simply being who they are, doing what they do, and for the important role they play in our lives and communities.
No money, fancy paper or colorful ribbons are required to give the very gifts that ultimately touch their recipients’ hearts the most. All you need are equal measures of understanding, compassion, love and commitment. Better still, these are gifts—such as volunteering regularly at your favorite charity— that can be replenished all year long, thus extending the spirit of the holidays into every day of the New Year.
So with a brand new decade just a few days away, here is Levine’s 20-item emotional gift guide to help get it started in the best possible way:
This property located at 1812 Bayshore Road in Nokomis, Florida is perfect for friends and family gatherings. Features include, a newly renovated kitchen overlooking the pool, split plan for privacy, two family rooms in addition to the large living room.
Within one mile to the beach, restaurants and shopping and includes par-3 golf course and access to rentable boat dock.
1812 Bayshore Road, Nokomis, FL – Listed by Linda Stowe of Michael Saunders & Company
Celebrating the holidays in a tough economy is enough to unleash the inner Scrooge in all of us. It’s disheartening for many of us to not be able to give to our loved ones in the abundance we’re accustomed to.
