Melbourne Real Estate News, Brevard County Florida by Sandy Shores Melbourne FL Realtor

What Makes a House a Home?

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:33:16 -0500

When you buy a property, you are buying a house. A building made from bricks or blocks, wood and nails. It is the people that move into the house that make it a home; their home.

We grow together and raise a family in our home. Often times we get married and have our first child in our home. We watch that baby take her first steps and say her first words in that home. We share the joy of our accomplishments, and in turn we comfort each other in sadness and sorrow. That home becomes so much more than just a building with four walls. It holds those precious moments for us; the good times, as well as the bad. We learn to grow. It becomes a part of who we are.

Every home has a different smell, a different "feel" to it. Some are warm and homey, while others may seem cold and uninviting to an outsider. But, it's the place that we come back to (even if just in our memory). Where we sit down and rest our head at the end of a long day. Where often times our pet greets us at the door. It's a place where we can be ourselves. It's a place where we can share our lives with those that love us.

So, often we see people that have become emotionally attached to their homes, because of all of the memories it holds.

Today, I can still remember the warmth and love I felt when we went to my Grandma's home. The holidays were my favorite. I could smell the big juicy turkey cooking in the oven, and the apple pies cooling on the stove. We would run across the street and play in the sand and stick our toes in the icy cold water of the ocean. Grandma would squeeze us as tight as she could (sometimes I thought I was going to break) and she would pinch our cheek till it turned a rosy red. She would tell us not to forget how special we were. Today, the house is gone, replaced by a 5 star high rise hotel and parking lot, overlooking the gentle waves of the ocean lapping at the shore. But, I still remember the love I felt while being at Grandma's home.

It's the love and the people in it that make a house a home.

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County, Florida's Space Coast Real Estate & Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment & Relocations.

We have a team of professionals that can help facilitate your Short Sale.

I buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Study Finds that Only 22% of Consumers Would Use the Same Realtor Again

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:13:57 -0500

I recently worked with clients that hired me to professionally market their home for sale.

As with many owners in our area, they had high hopes their home would bring top dollar. Their figures and my figures on what we each felt the house would bring in today's market did not match. My figure was considerably less than theirs. As we discussed the current market, they were not happy and they told me so. This is a big pill for sellers to swallow, and for some it takes longer to swallow than for others. Often it's an education over time.

But, unfortunately, it's reality.

They took my recommendations in getting the home "show ready". And, they were in agreement to remove their pet each time there was a showing. They did a great job of keeping the house spotless, so the home showed beautifully. They were great to work with.

As a couple of weeks passed, I continued providing them with market reports on what was or was not selling in their neighborhood. They were receptive to a quick price reduction within weeks (as I had them agree to it at the time of listing, if we did not have an offer). I continued to tell them like it was. I didn't paint a rosy picture of an outrageous price I thought they might get. I asked, "Do you want to sell or not? We've got to be sure that the house does not grow stale on the market." The short sales and foreclosures have been undercutting prices in the area.

These owners received an offer on their home in just over 30 days, they negotiated it and accepted it. It was less than they thought they were going to get for their home BEFORE I met them. We worked together to help them gain a better understanding of the market, as well reviewing the comparable sales in their neighborhood. The house had to appraise, based on what other similar properties had recently sold for. So, realism did set in for them.

The closing on their home was successful.

The sellers were happy. They told me, several times, that they appreciated everything that I had done for them. They are straight shooters. They didn't mince their words. I enjoyed working with them. They told me that I never waivered in what I told them from the first day I met them. She said that I never fed them a line of BS just to get the listing, that I gracioulsy told them how it was, even when it wasn't exactly what they wanted to hear. They thanked me for my honesty. (I've been shown to the door once or twice by owners that weren't quite as receptive to my honesty.)

Ironically, I just finished reading an article from RISMedia. A study by the California Association of Realtors was conducted on consumers, asking if they would use the same real estate agent again. The number dropped from 79% in 2004 to 22% in 2009! 64% in the study complained that their home was on the market too long. 51% indicated that their house sold for much less than they had hoped for.

Often sellers that do not understand, are uninformed, or that have unrealistic expectatations blame their real estate agent. The study went on to add that sometimes agents are to blame when they are not educating their clients about the state of the market and current conditions.

What do you think?

Is an agent to blame when they are not educating their clients to current market conditions? Is the agent at fault when the house sells for much less than what an owner hopes for?

FOOTNOTE: I have added a link in this post to the original RIS Media article where these statistics came from.

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County, Florida's Space Coast Real Estate & Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment & Relocations.

We have a team of professionals that can help facilitate your Short Sale.

I buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Wearing No Green On St. Patrick's Day Meant Being Pinched As A Kid

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:21:59 -0500

I sat down at my desk this morning and realized that I didn't have any green on. Uh-oh, so I headed back to my closet to change my shirt. Come on, you've got to wear green on St. Patrick's Day. Everybody does, don't they? No green on St. Patricks Day, coming from a long line of Irishmen in my family, now that's a sin.

I remember a couple of years ago when I was still in school, if you didn't have green on you got pinched by all of your classmates. "Oh, but, I'm wearing green underwear," I'd joke. Prove it then. Hmmm.

Today's the day for green beer (yuck!), corn beef and cabbage. It's tradition.

When I think of St. Patrick's Day it reminds me of my Grandma Whelan. She was an amazing woman! She had a plaque hanging on her wall, that has hung in my home for the past 28 years.

She loved it:

Irish Blessing

May the roads rise to meet you,

May the winds be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields,

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

Have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day

And, don't drink too much green beer!

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County, Florida's Space Coast Real Estate & Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment & Relocations.

We have a team of professionals that can help facilitate your Short Sale.

I buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

These Bring Back the Memories

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:05:20 -0500

This weekend my daughter, Stephanie and I headed over to the car and motorcycle show at Calvary Chapel in Melbourne. We spent a a lot of time admiring some of the gorgeous cars that were there. We would have loved to take a spin in a couple of these beauties.

Several of the cars we saw reminded me of cars that we had while growing up, like the VW van. But ours was lime green and it was a full size van. My mom used to drive it.

For years when my Dad was younger, he was a mechanic. He worked on different makes and models of cars. Years later, I remember when he got home each night from his job at Florida Gas Transmission Company, he would eat dinner and head out to the garage to work on cars for hours on end. He had a buddy that was in the car repo business. After the cars were repossessed, they were later sold. My Dad often got first dibs on the ones he wanted to buy. He would drive (or sometimes tow) cars home and work on them. He'd fix whatever they needed - rebuild the engines, clean up the interior and often paint them. He finished with some beautiful vehicles.

I remember my older sister used to be out in the garage working right beside him, under the hood of a car, up to her elbows in grease. She loved working with my dad.

I can't tell you the makes of all the cars we saw this weekend. Although, some of them sure brought back the memories. QUJDUTV7HPC4

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County, Florida's Space Coast Real Estate & Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment & Relocations.

We have a team of professionals that can help facilitate your Short Sale.

I buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Set Those Clocks Forward this Weekend - Spring is in the Air

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:30:01 -0600

The weather is getting warmer and Spring is right around the corner. It's my favorite time of year. The bees are buzzing and the birds are chirping.

This weekend we get to Spring forward by turning our clocks ahead one hour. We get an extra hour outside in the evenings to do the things we enjoy. It gives us more time to see properties while it's still light out. And, it gives us an extra hour of daylight to get outside to take in that regular exercise.

The weather is warm, but not too hot, and the humidity is relatively low. So, it's not sticky outside. There's usually a warm breeze in the air.

Since we had an unusually cold winter here, it's time to get out into the yards and cut back some of those plants. Some didn't make it through the freeze. Others can be trimmed back to the green on them. For those that are brown, try to peel a portion of the bark back to determine if the plant is still green underneath. If it is, clip it back a bit.

It's time to fertilize the lawn and to plant those new flowers.

So head outside, and get that much needed daily Vitamin D from the sun. 20 minutes a day is all it takes to boost your energy and your mood.

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County, Florida's Space Coast Real Estate & Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment & Relocations.

We have a team of professionals that can help facilitate your Short Sale.

I buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Looking at Houses When It's Raining Can Tell A lot About a Property

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:18:23 -0600

Yesterday, I headed out to show properties to a new buyer. The weather forecast was 100% chance of rain. We both brought our umbrellas. After looking at a couple of houses the clouds grew dark and the wind began howling. Then, the sky completely opened up. It started pouring.

I always recommend that buyers look at or take a drive by a property they are considering, during or right after a hard rain to see if there are water problems. They should also drive by at different times of the day and sometime on the weekend, if at all possible. This gives buyers an idea of what is going on in the neighborhood.

While it was pouring, my buyer and I only had a couple of houses left on the list to look at. One of the properties had a severe drainage problem. The backyard was quickly becoming a mini lake. So she ruled that one out completely. The other two we looked at were fine.

As we listened to the weather on the radio, there were reports of severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings, so we decided to call it a day, and get off the road.

In the past, in looking at properties in the rain, I have found roof leaks, problems with water coming seeping into low lying additions, and driveways that were impassable.

So, if possible (and I know this sometimes depends on the time of year - rainy season or not), do a drive by on a house that you are considering after a heavy rain, BEFORE making an offer.

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County, Florida's Space Coast Real Estate & Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment & Relocations.

We have a team of professionals that can help facilitate your Short Sale.

I buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Brevard County Students will Begin FCAT Testing Today

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:34:50 -0600

Students in Brevard County schools will start FCAT testing today. The math and reading parts of the test will be administered to grades three through ten. Fifth, eighth and tenth graders will also be required to take the science portion of the test.

The FCAT, Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test is used to determine whether schools are teaching the required course materials. It is an assessment of accountability and it measures each school's grade. It is also used to determine whether a child will be promoted to the next grade.

Brevard students have historically received top scores on the FCAT, compared to other school districts across the state.

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County, Florida's Space Coast Real Estate & Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment & Relocations.

We have a team of professionals that can help facilitate your Short Sale.

I buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

'I Could Have Bought that Property for Nothing 20 Years Ago!'

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:53:31 -0600

Yesterday, I was at the Strawberry Festival and got to talking with some people. We talked for awhile and the conversation turned to real estate. One of the men began discussing a piece of property he regretted not purchasing.

"You know, I could have bought that piece of property 20 years ago for cheap. And, I mean really cheap."

"Well, why didn't you?," I asked.

I chuckled. That wasn't the first time I've heard someone use that expression. And, I know it won't be the last.

When people say they could have bought a property years ago, why didn't they? At that time it probably seemed like a lot of money. And, they didn't know what the market was going to do; where it was heading, up or down.

Hindsight is 20/20. It gives us crystal clear vision, doesn't it? We know now what the past holds. We've been there. Done that. We've lived it. It played out before our eyes. We saw some buyers buy and we saw potential buyers do nothing. So, today it's easy and comfortable to say that you could have bought property 20 years ago... There's no risk in saying those words. We already know what the past holds.

But, what if I told you that then is now? It will again be 20 years ago, in the future.

Twenty years from now will you be the one saying that you missed a buying opportunity?

If now is then, then why doesn't it feel easy for some to jump in and buy today? They don't have a crystal ball to tell what the future holds. It may look like a lot of money today. But, compared to what? Prices in 2000? Surely, not prices in 2005-2006. Prices have dropped, and in our area they've dropped substantially in spots. Interest rates are still historically low. The government is offering tax credits for first time homebuyers, and for move up buyers. It doesn't get much better than this!

I know that every now and then we will hear people talk about the missed buying opportunities in the real estate market. Some are still talking about the missed selling opportunities at the peak of the market.

Oh, if only that crystal ball worked all the time!

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County, Florida's Space Coast Real Estate & Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment & Relocations.

We have a team of professionals that can help facilitate your Short Sale.

I buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

A Look at the Bigger Picture

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:23:09 -0600

I have a friend that truly believes that the universe aligns itself so that everything that happens to us, happens for a reason. Often times these events occur so that we can learn something from them. They come at inconvenient times in our lives. But, later we gain a better understanding of why they happened when they did. Ironically, the timing was because there was a bigger and better plan set out for us, that we were unaware of.

We are all a part of a plan, a bigger master plan. A plan that we may not know where or how we fit into. So, we realize there are some things in our lives that are out of our control.

Difficult things happen in our lives so that we can learn to appreciate the good things. For every negative thing, a positive thing takes it's place...perhaps not always right away. But, every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

The negative things help us build character, make us more resilient, and help us grow stronger.

These things happen for a reason. They provide us with a reality check. They help teach us to look within, for our inner strength, to change things in our lives that aren't working for us any longer. They help give us a different perspective on our lives.

They help teach us to cherish the precious times in our lives.

And, they teach us to appreciate how truly blessed we really are.

It's all part of the master plan.

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County, Florida's Space Coast Real Estate & Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment & Relocations.

We have a team of professionals that can help facilitate your Short Sale.

I buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Cancer Took Her Life, But Her Spirit Remains Alive in our Home and In our Hearts

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:33:54 -0600

It's been a year ago, today. Sometimes it feels like an eternity, with so many memories and so many tears shed. It's been an extremely difficult time for my husband; the passing of his mother that he was so close to. They had a wonderful relationship. But, I can remember every tiny little detail about her last day, as if it were yesterday. And, I imagine that day will always stay with me.

Dawn Shores was a phenomenal woman. A person like no one else I've ever met in my life. My daughters are having an incredibly difficult time this anniversary. Dawn will always be in our hearts.

So, I am reposting the blog I wrote last year, the day after her passing, to keep her close in our thoughts.

She Died Yesterday, The Day Her First Great Grandbaby Was Due

My husband's mother lost her battle with cancer yesterday. We got the call at 4:30 to come immediately as it would only be a matter of time. We walked into her apartment 5 minutes too late. Her sister Joan and niece, Debbie were with her when she passed away. My teenage daughters were devastated.

Dawn was one of the most courageous women I had ever met. She was diagnosed almost four years ago. She had a pea sized lump on her lung. In time it grew and became the size of a grapefruit. She had the slow growing cancer, squamous cell cancer. As time progressed the cancer began wrapping itself around her heart and her left lung. Her lungs began filling up with fluid, so she had to have one drained twice a week. Doctors feared that her heart would give out because of the strain. The cancer took it's toll on her body. She went from 135 lbs down to less than 90 lbs. She was fragile and frail.

She wouldn't let you say the word 'cancer' around her. She was in complete denial. And that's why she lived so long beyond her initial diagnosis. Everytime she went to the doctor they marveled that she was still alive.

Every new ache or pain was not because of the cancer. She would say, "I don't know why they can't figure out why this hurts so much. I've been telling the doctor for 8 months there's something wrong with it, but they just can't figure it out."

Dawn got out of bed eveyday and was insistent on getting dressed. She wanted to be ready to go out for a bite to eat or to head to the store (just in case). She put makeup on everyday, until the last week and a half. The chemo took her hair, and as it began growing back, when we went to her apartment to see her, she had to grab her wig or a hat before she let us come in. She apologized profusely for not wearing any makeup. "Oh, I must look awful today," she'd say.

She died when my husband was out of town on a business trip - and that was his biggest fear. Should I go? he asked. I couldn't make that decision for him, I would support him one way or another. His mother had been diagnosed 4 years ago. She looked good when he left. The prognosis was good. His trip got pushed back a day, and then a week. There were family members that devoted their days, weeks, months and the last couple of years to her, including my husband. So, someone was always with her. Hospice was there too, and they were absolutely incredible.

She wouldn't discuss final arrangements. In her mind if she did, she was giving into the cancer.

Dawn Shores was a phenomenal person and an incredible grandmother. Her husband died when her boys were 5 and 7 years old. She raised her two boys by herself, working two jobs. No grass ever grew under her feet. She had an infectious personality, she was a very active member of the community, and she was always out, staying busy. She never missed a ball game, a wrestling match, a school play. She was an active part of her grandchildren's lives. She was at all of their dance shows, school plays, powerlifting meets, birthday parties. If her grandkids were in it, she was there.

She was feisty and funny. She had a great sense of humor. And, she was so incredibly inquisitive about everything in your life, no matter who you were. She was interested in everyone and was a great listener. When my daughters went to see her she would ask them 30 questions about school, boys, sports, dance, you name it. She loved them dearly and said her biggest regret was that she wouldn't be alive to see them grow to have families of their own.

Dawn's first great grandbaby girl, April, was due yesterday, March 5, 2009, the day she died. Everyday she would ask what day it was and wasn't that baby due on the 5th? She knew.

Dawn Shores, 45 year resident of Melbourne Florida died at 74 years old. Dawn was my husband's mother and the only father he ever knew, ( as his dad died when he was 5 years old).

She was one of the "good ones". It makes no sense to us why she was chosen to leave us at such a young age. We have learned so much from her. We will miss her dearly, but we know that she fought with all that she had in her. Now, it's time for her to lay her head down and finally rest, as it has been such a painful struggle for her.

God bless you, Dawn, and thank you for everything that you have given everyone whose life you have touched.

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County, Florida's Space Coast Real Estate & Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment & Relocations.

We have a team of professionals that can help facilitate your Short Sale.

I buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Bank Owned Properties - Buyers, Do Your Homework First

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:40:45 -0600

Bank owned properties... It seems that they are cropping up all over. There are some good deals out there. But, they are a bit different than other properties being offered for sale. These properties are offered in AS IS, where is condition. The utilities are not on. They are sold with no disclosures, or warranties from the bank/seller.

Some are cash only properties. Some won't qualify for any type of financing. A property that has some type of damage; structural, roof, electrical may be advertised as cash only.

Often a buyer gets one shot at getting one of these properties and that's it. His first offer may very well be his only offer. If there is more than one offer; a multiple offer situation, buyers can be asked to present their highest and best offer. OR, the bank will decide to negotiate with just one buyer, if his is the best offer. It depends on what the offers look like, if they came in at the same time, or what the difference was in the purchase prices being offered. The bank or listing real estate company has no obligation to respond to any one specific offer.

Most often these banks have their own contracts and addendums they require the buyer to sign. Be sure to read the fine print.

Sometimes these banks will give the buyer the opportunity to turn the water, gas and electric on, with time to hire professional inspectors. If the inspections are unacceptable to the buyer, then the buyer's escrow deposit will be returned to him. However, not every bank allows the buyer time to get utilities on, nor the time to get professional inspections done. We had a bank this week ask if our buyer would forfeit his right to inspections. This can be a risky proposition... especially with a house that had a half full slimey green pool, a roof caving in from severe water damage, PVC piping running hodge podge along the laundry room walls, an old Federal Pacific electrical panel, and electrical wiring in several rooms that looked like a botched weekend project.

In addition, often bank owned properties come with additional closing costs to the buyer; costs customariliy covered by a seller. Some can run into a couple thousand dollars. Sometimes the costs vary based on the assigned title company or attorney's office that will be handling the closing.

A bank owned property should be purchased with title insurance. (But, properties being sold on the courthouse steps are not being sold with any guarantee on the title of the property. Leave those transactions to the real pros who know the in and outs of bank auctions.) Title insurance insures that the property is being purchased free and clear of any liens or encumbrances. And. if any do turn up, the title company takes care of them.

Buying bank owned properties isn't for everyone. And, every bank and/or listing real estate company is a bit different on how they handle their distressed properties. It's best to do your homework, first. Because, when these properties come on the market, there's typically a flood of activity and they go fast. Often we are seeing that the typical homebuyer is being muscled out by the cash paying investors.

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County, Florida's Space Coast Real Estate & Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment & Relocations.

We have a team of professionals that can help facilitate your Short Sale.

I buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

A Great Old Song from the 1980's

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:29:45 -0600

Silent Lucidity by Queensyrche

Hush now, don't you cry
Wipe away the teardrop from your eye
You're lying safe in bed
It was all a bad dream
Spinning in your head
Your mind tricked you to feel the pain
Of someone close to you leaving the game of life
So here it is, another chance
Wide awake you face the day
Your dream is over... or has it just begun?

There's a place I like to hide
A doorway that I run through in the night
Relax child, you were there
But only didn't realize and you were scared
It's a place where you will learn
To face your fears, retrace the years
And ride the whims of your mind
Commanding in another world
Suddenly you hear and see
This magic new dimension

I- will be watching over you
I- am gonna help you see it through
I- will protect you in the night
I- am smiling next to you, in Silent Lucidity

-spoken during solo-
[Visualize your dream]
[Record it in the present tense]
[Put it into a permanent form]
[If you persist in your efforts]
[You can achieve dream control]
[Dream control]
[How's that then, better?]
[Dream control]
[Dream control]
[Dream control]
[Dream control]
[Hug me]

If you open your mind for me
You won't rely on open eyes to see
The walls you built within
Come tumbling down, and a new world will begin
Living twice at once you learn
You're safe from pain in the dream domain
A soul set free to fly
A round trip journey in your head
Master of illusion, can you realize
Your dream's alive, you can be the guide but...

I- will be watching over you
I- am gonna help to see it through
I- will protect you in the night
I- am smiling next to you....

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County, Florida's Space Coast Real Estate & Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment & Relocations.

We have a team of professionals that can help facilitate your Short Sale.

I buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Short Sale Lenders - Well Qualified Buyers are Getting Tired of Waiting

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:24:42 -0600

We have a buyer that has an offer to purchase in on one of our short sale listings. This is the second buyer for this property. The first one walked because the process was taking too long (as so many short sales do). The second buyer completed his home inspection and termite inspections. He received his formal loan commitment. But, when it came time to do the appraisal, the house did not appraise for the contract price approved by the short sale lender. The reason: the short sale lender has taken so long on this transaction, the seller's short sale VA appraisal was over 120 days old by the time the buyer's appraisal was completed.

Brevard County is still considered a distressed market. Although, we have seen stablization, we are still in a declining market. Thus, the short sale lender's VA appraisal is higher than the buyer's recent appraisal.

Immediately, upon receiving word that the house did not appraise, we went back to the short sale mitigator, and asked for either a new short sale seller's VA appraisal or for an adjustment of value to today's comparable sales. The mitigator said she would send it off for a decision on how they would rectify the matter. Our short sale facilitator has called and called and called and called some more, in addition to sending one e mail after another with today's comparable sales. That was 30 days ago. She has been in touch with supervisors.

There still has been no resolution.

This isn't rocket science, review the recent sales and adjust the value or get another seller VA appraisal done, whatever it takes. Let's get this short sale property off the market BEFORE it becomes a foreclosure and COSTS TAXPAYERS MONEY!

We have a ready, willing and able buyer. We were 4 days away from closing. The closing was supposed to take place at the beginning of February.

I have spoken with the buyer's agent. The buyer has both time and money invested in this transaction. He has paid out of pocket for a credit report, appraisal, home inspection and termite inspection. He has down payment money sitting in escrow. But, he's getting tired of waiting.

She indicated that he's a first time homebuyer and wants to take advantage of the up to $8000 tax credit. He knows he has until April 30 to get a home under contract, and he must close by June 30. She said that this is the second short sale property that he has tried to buy and at this point he is worried that the lender may not be able to close on time.

Why is it that some of these short sale lenders seem to have such a difficult time just wrapping up the last of the transaction and finally getting to closing?

It's absolutely mind boggling!

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County, Florida's Space Coast Real Estate & Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment & Relocations.

We have a team of professionals that can help facilitate your Short Sale.

I buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Charming 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath Condo for Rent

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:34:19 -0600

Sandy Shores, Realtor | M & M Real Estate, Inc | 321-253-4545

2748 Golf Lake Circle #811, Melbourne, FL

Melbourne Florida Condo - Ground floor, end, corner unit overlooking lake, tucked in the back of the complex

2BR/2BA Townhouse

$695/month

Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Sq Footage	1,140
Parking	1 dedicated
Pet Policy	Small dogs (< 25lbs)
Deposit	$750

DESCRIPTION

Charming well maintained condo in great central location! Light & bright! Comfortable home! Kitchen with pantry. Dining area off of living room. Attractive light colors! Screened porch overlooking lake and pool area. Laundry room with washer & dryer in the unit. Rent includes cable and water. Minutes to I-95, US1, Wickham Rd, the beaches, across from shopping and Harbor City Golf Course.

see additional photos below

RENTAL FEATURES

- Air conditioning	- Central heat	- Tile floor
- Living room	- Dining room	- Refrigerator
- Stove/Oven	- Washer	- Dryer
- Laundry area - inside

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Swimming pool(s)

- Lake

LEASE TERMS

Available immediately! Owner would like one year lease, with $750 security deposit.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

End, ground floor, corner	Community pool
Living & dining rooms	Screened porch
Master bedroom	Drive 10 minutes to river

Contact info:

Sandy Shores, Realtor

M & M Real Estate, Inc

321-253-4545

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Mar 3, 2010, 10:29am PST

We Don't Dictate the Market, the Market Dictates Us

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:37:13 -0600

On my next listing appointment I'm going to wear a suit of armor!

A couple of days ago I went to meet with a seller about marketing her home for sale. She had a beautiful 3 bedroom, 2 bath, well appointed home in a desirable neighborhood.

I always like to take a little time to get to know the owners. And, I ask them to take me through the house and tell me as much as they can about it. This way I can get a feel for the property.

The owner seemed a bit hurried, as she showed me the top of the line amenities she had added to her lovely home.

We sat down to discuss my marketing plan, to sell her property, when she chimed in with, "Well, how much? How much can I get for my house?"

I pushed the marketing materials aside and picked up the market analysis I had performed on the property. In today's market, realistically the home was worth approximately $189,000.

When I gave her that figure, I was about to duck, because she looked like she was going to pick up a book and throw it at me!

'Back in 2005, I had a neighbor down the street offer me $350,000 for this house!' she boomed. 'You can't tell me that it's only worth $189,000, today!'

Unfortunately, I don't create the market, I can only interpret it.

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County, Florida's Space Coast Real Estate & Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment & Relocations.

We have a team of professionals that can help with your Short Sale.

I buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property