It’s that time of year again. The business media and its many pundits are issuing all sorts of recommendations for investments that are predicted to perform best in the New Year. You can barely watch TV or pick up the Wall Street Journal without seeing one.
Despite all its recent woes, real estate still enjoys the potential for being one of the best long-term investments you can make. That’s because the turmoil that rocked real estate markets over the past few years has largely subsided, leaving Southwest Florida home prices at their lowest level since the turn of the century. Now presumed to be at or near bottom, prices are expected to trend higher over the next several years; restoring real estate to the reliable long-term growth asset it has traditionally been. Plus with mortgage interest rates at unprecedented lows, the long-term cost of owning a second home, investment or retirement property has seldom been lower.
Each month, national real estate authority Steve Harney updates a graph comparing returns on investment for real estate versus the Dow, S&P and NASDAQ. His latest version (shown above) covers the dozen years between January 1, 2000 and January 1, 2012. Recent volatility in all these markets notwithstanding, had you invested $100 in each in early 2000, by now you would have netted $140 in real estate, $112 on the Dow, $90 on the S&P and $70 on NASDAQ (Source: MSNMoney.com, Case Shiller—updated 01/01/12).
Today’s real estate investors are a far cry from the frenzied, poorly-leveraged property flippers of a few years ago. They are well-capitalized, often pay in cash; and understand that to profit from real estate typically means hanging on to a well-maintained property for several years. Still, many investors begin recouping their costs immediately by leasing out their properties in today’s exceedingly strong rental market.
Beyond its investment potential, the purchase of a Southwest Florida home at today’s vastly lower prices will yield much more than a tangible parcel of real estate. You are also buying into one of America’s most outstanding cultural and recreational scenes, its top-rated beach, a superior choice of schools, universities and medical facilities; and many other first-rate amenities no other region in Florida can match. Plus, yours is an investment you can live in, retire to or vacation from—when you aren’t letting it pay for itself by leasing it out. (more…)
Find the perfect community for you. Pictured: The entrance to The Oaks.
Whether buying or renting a home, it’s imperative to be selective about the neighborhood you may be moving into. Luckily, the Sarasota area has a number of distinct neighborhoods from which to choose. From elegant communities sited around neatly manicured golf courses to modest gated neighborhoods offering an assortment of activities and amenities, the Sarasota area is brimming with choices to please just about any taste. In fact, you can find out all about them HERE.
One of the biggest mistakes a new homebuyer can make is the failure to thoroughly investigate the neighborhood of their new residence. To help avoid this possible issue, here are our top tips for finding the perfect neighborhood: (more…)
Find a range of residential options in Glenn Lakes & The Estates at Glenn Lakes. Pictured: 5122 44th W St.
Centrally located on the southwest side of Manatee County, Glenn Lakes & The Estates at Glenn Lakes encompass approximately 271 sprawling acres, which includes eight lakes. There are 371 one- and two-story homes in Glenn Lakes that were built starting in 1995. Glenn Lakes and The Estates at Glenn Lakes are deed restricted communities, which allows the residents to follow certain guidelines to help maintain the aesthetic atmosphere of the community. Many of the homes in the Estates at Glenn Lakes back up the Manatee County public golf course, awarding these homes some fabulous views. (more…)
Use these helpful tools to make your home buying experience rewarding.
With interest rates remaining low and home prices hovering just above rock bottom, 2011 poses an exceptional time for homebuyers to take advantage of the market. However, buying a home is more than just choosing the right property, it is a significant financial commitment that requires many intricate calculations and decisions before you even start hunting. Fortunately, many of these solutions can be found right here on michaelsaunders.com. (more…)
Sparkling waters surround Lido Key. Pictured: South Lido Key and North Siesta Key.
Located just south of St. Armands Circle, Lido Key is a quiet respite for both boater and beach lovers. Set on the Gulf of Mexico is Lido Beach, just west of St Armands Circle. It is made up of three types of properties: single-family waterfront homes, single-family off-water homes and condominiums. Lido Key is also home to a 100+ acre public park. This park offers plenty of space for recreation, including Gulf of Mexico beaches, Sarasota Bay beaches and fishing, as well as a unique picnic area and a playground. This area creates a very unique combination of laid back housing and recreation with the Gulf of Mexico as its backdrop. (more…)
The homes of Country Club Shores offer a quaint "Old Florida" style. Pictured: 621 Ranger Lane.
Originally developed in five phases in the early 1960s, Country Club Shores has become one of the most sought-after locations on Longboat Key. With its convenient site at the southern end of Longboat Key, the neighborhood is popular with boaters as most homes are set on the open bay or deepwater canals with direct access to Sarasota Bay. Residents also enjoy beach access, just across Gulf of Mexico Drive.
Market Activity – Country Club Shores
There are currently 43 active listings in Country Club Shores ranging in price from $499,000 for a 1,600-square foot home built in 1968 to $3.7 million for a 2010-built bayfront estate. So far year-to-date, 12 properties have sold with prices ranging from $330,000 to $1.7 million. Of these 12 closed properties, four took place in July.
Discover a number of gorgeous homes in Stoneybrook at Venice. Pictured: 11355 Dancing River Dr.
A Lennar community that opened in 2004, Stoneybrook at Venice is one of the newest family-oriented neighborhoods in Sarasota County. A master-planned, gated community, Stoneybrook at Venice is nestled within 640 acres with 55 percent of the area being preserve and lakes, with an array of amenities for everyone to enjoy. There are a variety of home floor plans available for retirees to growing families. Located off Center Road or River Road in Venice, it is minutes from I-75, shopping, medical facilities, schools, golf courses, downtown Venice, and, of course, our fabulous beaches.
Market Activity – Stoneybrook at Venice
Stoneybrook at Venice is enjoying robust activity in this challenging real estate market with 620 homes currently built out of an estimated 900 total. Lennar posted six new home sales in the first three weeks of June and are in the process of beginning their next phase of new construction homes. There were nine closed re-sales in the last 30+ days, and there are 12 pending re-sales. Homes prices range from the mid $100s to $300s for new and re-sale homes with square footage ranging from 1,300 to 3,000+.
Agent Kudos – Stoneybrook at Venice
Michael Saunders & Company agents have worked together to list and sell homes in Stoneybrook at Venice with a recent collaborative by Theresa Brown, listing agent from the Venice office, and selling agent Jody Skapyak of the Palmer Ranch office. The home was a lovely three-bedroom, two-bath with den, and was sited with a preserve in the back and green space on one side offering privacy and a lush setting. This home went under contract in less than 30 days and sold for an affordable $162,000. (more…)
This month Michael Saunders & Company celebrates its 34th birthday—an age which Goldilocks would consider not too young, not too old; but “just right.”
With nearly three and a half decades of experience behind us, we’re old enough to have experienced several real estate cycles, wise enough to predict developing trends and changing market conditions; and nimble enough to reshape our customer service model as quickly as new challenges and opportunities mandate. Meanwhile the “youngster” in us consistently earns high marks throughout the industry for always being among the first real estate companies to import the benefits of the latest information and technologies to our clients and customers. Michaelsaunders.com, already widely regarded as one of the best web sites in real estate, is presently undergoing a dramatic transformation to further enhance its user capabilities.
As every business blessed with longevity knows, success typically comes from correctly identifying an underserved market, serving it as never before; and never becoming too comfortable with the status quo. Combining success with the growth needed to sustain it requires a willingness to continually offer the same brand of exemplary service to new segments of the market.
In this Ask Darla video, Darla Furst talks talks about whether or not out-of-the-area buyers are continuing to move to Florida and if they are still buying the same type of properties that they have in the past.
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It’s that time of year again. The business media and its many pundits are issuing all sorts of recommendations for investments that are predicted to perform best in the New Year. You can barely watch TV or pick up the Wall Street Journal without seeing one.
