HAPPY NEW YEAR and my best wishes for a prosperous and healthy 2020 for you and your family.
New home sales are booming in Sarasota, Florida, but so are resales. Who's buying what today? Chart below shows pending home sales in Sarasota by the year the home was built.
Jan 17-19th is the Sarasota Seafood and Music Festival downtown. Info: SeafoodFestivals.com.
Call me if I can answer any of your real estate questions. Linda Holley, Realtor, GRI, Michael Saunders & Co., Siesta Key, phone 941-914-4914
Pending sales by year built:
Want to know what people are buying today in Sarasota, Florida? Statistics for "Pending" home sales (homes that just came under contract March 1-5, 2019):
All companies: Total 115 newly negotiated contracts in past five days. Averages: 84 days on market, sq. feet 1,636, list price $356,000.
Homes listed by Michael Saunders & Co. that came under contract the past five days: Averages: 52 days on market, sq. ft. 1,753, list price $402,000. Note: these listings were on the market 32 days less than the average in Sarasota, indicating that they were correctly priced.
Contracts for Downtown Condos: Averages: 129 days on market, 1,684 sq. ft, list price $687,000.
Contracts for Villas: All areas, Averages: 79 days on market, 1,571 sq ft, list price $279,000.
Note that we do not know the negotiated sales price today, what is shown in MLS is only the current list price at time of contract. Negotiated sales price is confidential until closing; after that, it becomes public record.
Top Selling Areas (Location/Location):
Condos: Siesta Key, Downtown, Gulf Gate, Palmer Ranch.
Single Family Homes: Gulf Gate, University Town Center Mall area.
Villas: All areas.
Harbor Towers - see photos below.
5855 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key, Florida 34242
Two condominiums came under contract March 1-5th, average list price $367,000 for a one- and a two-bedroom units.
Team Dunn has two Harbor Towers listings today. 1 BR (Unit 624) $328,900; and 2BR 2BA(Unit 217) $375,000--note recent price reduction and room for washer/dryer. Boat slips available first come, first serve. Fishing pier and gazebo on the Intracoastal Waterway, large party room, outdoor grills, 2 pools, tennis courts, extra storage, new fitness center, rental office on-site, 24-hour security, on-site laundry facilities on each floor. Minimum 2- week rentals. Owners may have small pets.
Call Linda Holley, Realtor, GRI, Michael Saunders & Co., for more info on Sarasota home sales and Harbor Towers. 941-914-4914.
Harbor Towers Marina on Siesta Key Beach, FL
Hello everyone,
3,150 read my blog last week - thanks! The fastest selling areas in Sarasota are discussed below. I'll also share moments as I am “making a point to make a difference” this holiday season by paying it forward as mentioned in my previous blog.
According to the home sales pending in Sarasota, the two top zip codes are: 34231 (Gulf Gate area), and 34238 (Palmer Ranch) 27 percent are new home sales in Palmer Ranch.
What's so great about Gulf Gate and Palmer Ranch? Restaurants, proximity to Siesta Key, shopping, schools, and location, location…just 15 minutes from downtown Sarasota. I worked with Buyers who just purchased a new townhome in Promenade at Palmer Ranch and was thrilled when they asked me to assist them in their purchase--from beginning to end. They listened and hired a private, independent inspector to come in prior to the framing inspection by the county and again prior the builder's walk-through a few days before closing. All items discovered by the inspector were cheerfully corrected by the builder.
Paying it forward: While waiting in line to at Walgreen's to ask the pharmacist a question, a young lady came up to a different window, and called the pharmacist over. I thought to myself, “Hey, I was here first!” I checked her out: young, cute, clueless; but then I started to listen to what she was saying. She was very worried: "Can he take this medicine now, how much does it cost?" I was calming down thinking that this is a young mother buying medicine for a sick child. She left, and I stalked her - found her on the aisle picking up cough and cold medicine for her little son. I told her that this holiday season, I’m helping people by “paying it forward” and would it be ok if I bought her child's medicine? She was shocked but thrilled, and hugged me in tears. She said, "I work at a fast-food restaurant and see this all of the time, and finally someone is doing this for me." We walked out to the parking lot together and she said he had been in ER two days earlier and did not seem to be getting better. Now I find myself wishing I had done more for this young family.
My Scrooge is obviously a germaphobe, but no, I did not get the flu from her hug.... but washed my hands as soon as I got home!
Today I was in the office of my ophthalmologist to pick up a free sample and there was a young man ahead of me (taking up too much of MY time again)! After a few minutes, I moved over beside him and listened...he finished his business and said, "Where can I go to pay on my bill?" Scrooge said, "This is crazy, you are spending too much money this year! Stop!" I moved up closer to him and quietly said, "This holiday season, I am paying it forward and would like to help you with that bill." The very happy look on his face was worth ten times more than what I gave him...and I said to him, "Pay it forward!" He nodded and left with a big smile, headed for the billing department to pay on his bill with the cash I slipped him. The free sample of eye drops that I was given by my doctor was worth five times more than what I offered this young man. Maybe after a while, my Scrooge will go into hibernation!
Life is not easy for so many right around us. Open your eyes and your hearts, “make a point to make a difference” this holiday season. I know I made a difference in the lives of two people this holiday season, and you can too.
Best regards,
Linda Holley, Realtor, GRI, Michael Saunders & Co. 941-914-4914
Go to my home page at LindaHrealtor.com for mortgage calculator and my listings.
The Global Business Council of our Realtor Association had a panel discussion about the United Kingdom's (UK) withdrawal from the European Union (EU), referred to as BREXIT. Britain voted to leave the EU, and the Scottish public voted to remain, which could lead to the breakup of Great Britain. The EU has lost one of its largest members, and this could affect the future value of the Euro. The new British PM, Theresa May, has 3 years to negotiate with the EU, and Parliament is urging her to start these talks this summer.
From June 22-July 13, 2016, exchange rates for the pound is 20,046 less for an investment of $250,000 US dollars. For Florida’s UK real estate investors: as soon as you put your Sarasota home on the market, see a tax attorney immediately and try to get a reduction in your foreign tax withholdings, FRPTA, at closing.
How will BREXIT affect real estate in UK? It is estimated that UK property values may drop between 5-10% for 1-3 years. If businesses that are mostly in London leave for Europe, then the value of commercial properties will decline. But if the pound goes down compared to the US dollar, then US and other foreign investments may increase. It may be time for US to invest in the UK!
Our British friends vacation and retire in Sarasota County because of our wonderful Florida beaches and sunshine. Those who are planning to buy homes and retire on the Florida gulf probably will. That may not be the case for tourists who fly “across the pond” because the decrease in the pound may affect their travel plans. They may choose to vacation in Spain or France rather than come back the US for economic reasons.
Visit my home page at www.PalmerRanchLindaHolley.com for helpful information about buying and selling Sarasota real estate.
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