July 23rd, 2017 8:28 AM by Linda Holley
Good morning,
Thank you! According to Google Analytics this morning, a total of 9,738 people read my blog the past 30 days, and 622 entered my website, LindaHrealtor.com, through my blog posts (under Home tab). There are many pages with helpful real estate information, but my blogs are, by far, the most popular. It shows what I’ve been up to in real estate the past 3 years, good or bad.
Good news! I have joined Team Dunn with Siesta Key’s Michael Saunders and Co. My teammates, Lin and Maurice, are among our company’s top agents and are THE BEST in marketing and negotiating; they have received the 5-Star Client Satisfaction Award for 8 years. Together, Team Dunn offers of 50 years’ real estate expertise to the Sarasota community. I’m very excited!
Team Dunn and I worked together to market and sell 5302 Cape Leyte Drive in Siesta Isles, just a short walk to Siesta Key’s public beach. That home is under contract today, and we close next month. Friday, I pulled the neighborhood statistics for Siesta Isles, and here’s what I found: This home was under contract in 76 days, and the average days on the market is 74 days. It has some very nice updates, a newer roof and HVAC, plus it was very clean and clutter-free. The Seller listened: they got an appraisal, and we had a range for negotiating purposes. Buyers saw this home at one of my open houses. BUT current listings in Siesta Isles have been on the market 167 days, and if I were one of those Realtors, I would be very worried and talking to Sellers about price reductions, because most of these homes are much farther from the beach than our Cape Leyte listing. My marketing material going out to that neighborhood this week will recommend getting an appraisal if a resident is thinking about selling. It’s about location, location, location, and on Siesta, “How far do I have to walk before my tired toes are in that beautiful, warm white sand?”
Thinking about relocating to Sarasota? I recommend it! My family relocated here from Atlanta, and it’s simply an awesome place to raise a family. The schools are excellent, and there are wonderful recreational facilities, parks, and performing arts. Most of the jobs here are in education, the service industry or medical field. When I first came to Sarasota, I could not sell real estate (because I was involved in a 3-year lawsuits, with contractors and realtors in the southwest over some ski condos that I invested in), so I did a variety of things until we settled the cases. I was a Kelly Girl and had some cool assignments all over town, and in between, I “drove Miss Daisy” to medical appointments and did home health care at some very nice rehabilitation centers. People should not tell me that they can’t find a job, because I worked during the recession in a new town. Some of this will be in my book about my lawsuits, Motion to Intervene, that will be available in Barnes and Noble and Amazon this fall. Thinking about buying a new home? Wait for my book and you’ll know how to check out the contractors and Realtors and why I recommend using an attorney to review contracts and for closing.
Millennials are 34% of home buyers and over 66% plan to purchase a new home within the next 5 years. They are better informed about their options than any other generation before them. They will buy a $200 pair of jeans after they try on 67 different pairs. The way that they shop for homes is no different--and they prefer to work with real estate agents.
Getting your home ready to sell? Here’s how to make your home more attractive to Millennials:
Make all necessary repairs and upgrades before listing.
Consider updating kitchens and baths - these have always sold homes, but now they are more important than ever.
Do an energy efficiency audit and make upgrades anywhere you can, including solar panels.
Consider upgrading any old appliances.
Install smart home features like programmable thermostats.
They prefer open floor plans, home offices, and good internet/cell services.
Since more than three-quarters of Millennial home buyers find the listings online, good photography is everything. They drive by first, and then contact a realtor to make an appointment.
Most get their down payments from their parents, so negotiating a Seller credit to Buyers at closing will appeal to Mom and Dad—who will probably come along on the showings.
(How Millennials Are Changing the Housing Market by John White, Founder and CMO, Social Marketing Solutions@juanblanco76)
Linda’s List!
Below are my picks for this week – to see photos, go to LindaHrealtor.com and enter the MLS number beginning with “A” in the Home Search field. Call me if you are in town and want to see!
A4189950, Siesta condo – 6266 Midnight Pass Road, #404, Excelsior Condominiums, gulf view, 2 BR 2BA, $749,000, 1,253 sq ft, pet-friendly, furnished with washer/dryer. Great rental! Listed by Team Dunn.
A4169402, Whitfield Estates community near Sarasota Bradenton Airport – European charm: 1198 Longfellow Way, Shadybrook Village, 3 BR 2.5 BA, 1408 sq ft, price reduced to $139,000, updates, landscaped front entry, gated outdoor living area, furnished, new HVAC, pet-friendly (up to 100 pounds). Listed by Team Dunn.
Thinking about listing your home? Now is an excellent time! I hold Open Houses all year, but I meet local Sarasota residents this time of the year. A local friend and customer pointed out that locals don’t get out as much during the winter when our seasonal residents are here. We wait until there is less traffic and there’s a shorter wait time at restaurants. So don’t be afraid to put your home on the market this summer or fall, because there’s a good chance your Buyer is already here.
That’s all for today, please don’t text and drive, and do call me at 941-914-4914 if I can answer your questions about Sarasota real estate, Siesta condos, or homes in Venice, Florida. “Check me out on Facebook”
https://www.facebook.com/LindaHolleyLLC/
Most sincerely yours,
Linda Holley, Realtor, GRI, Team Dunn, 5100 Ocean Blvd, Siesta Key, Florida 34242, Michael Saunders & Company
Do you have a question? We can help. Simply fill out the form below and we'll contact you with the answer, with no obligation to you. We guarantee your privacy.