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
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
Linda’s List:
5302 Cape Leyte Drive, Siesta Key Beach, a Siesta Isles tropical gem and the place to make memories of your family reunions and neighborhood gatherings. Your day begins on the east-facing patio with coffee, Wall Street Journal, and the morning sun. Walk or bike to Siesta Key public beach, just ten minutes away, letting the waves pull in your toes, sinking deeper in the sand as your face and shoulders soak up the warm sun.With a grateful heart, you think about the other people trying to get to work, those in corporate America caught in rush-hour traffic but today, your job is to relax and take care of YOU, without conflicting deadlines, and projects. Board meetings are meaningless in paradise, because this place is designed to take the stress away. You found your own private oasis, and now you finally have it all on the white sands of the Florida gulf, and Siesta Key Beach. Meet your friends for a delicious lunch in Siesta Key Village, and invite them over to your home for afternoon cocktails and grilling. Everyone marvels at the painted canvas of colors of the gulf coast sunset in your back yard, views that are yours alone to share with the special people who have brought so much joy to your life. 5302 Cape Leyte Drive is nestled among homes priced over $1 million, but this home is available today, turnkey furnished, for $619,000, appraised and priced to sell. Call or text Linda Holley, Realtor, 941-914-4914 for more details.
This morning, I took Burt Reynolds, my chocolate cocker spaniel, to walk with me across the Ringling Bridge. Driving up Fruitville Road towards Highway 41, I counted at least seven new buildings going up. SEVEN! As Burt and I started our walk, I noticed how things have changed in Sarasota since I moved here in 2009. Once called “God’s waiting room,” today all I saw was active people out biking, walking, and enjoying the outdoors. And it was only 7:15 a.m.! You may have seen the news segment this week about Colorado offering healthy lifestyles. I’ve been to Denver and everyone is outdoors, hiking, biking, walking, and now that’s what I am seeing in Sarasota. People are flocking here for this healthy lifestyle where they can enjoy the arts, theater, and still get around town in 30 minutes or less. Schools are the best, it’s a great place for families, so downtown Sarasota is where things are happening!Speaking of downtown real estate, at Sansara, 300 S. Pineapple Avenue downtown, eleven condos have recently sold and two are currently on the market. Sansara features 17 residences on 10 floors, located at the gateway to Sarasota’s historic Burns Court area. This boutique community is within walking distance of the farmer’s market, restaurants, theaters, organic markets, night life, and more. Unit 201 has soring 10’ ceilings, 30’ retractable window wall featuring indoor and outdoor living. Over 2,600 square feet inside and 2,600 square feet outside for this 3BR 3BA offering private outdoor grill, 2 car garage, spa, gym, and yoga room. Listed at $2.5 million.
Unit 401 boasts panoramic views of the city, Sarasota bay and marina. Upgrades include wood flooring, square recessed LED lighting, Lube Italian cabinetry, listed at $2.3 million.
Michael Saunders and Company’s annual meeting was held May 12, 2017 at the Hyatt in downtown Sarasota. Our company is #70 in the country, and this company is comprised of people who have come together over the past 41 years with passion and core values—who are committed to the business propositions and value for our customers. Our company is known across the globe for having a high regard for values. I can attest that the right people have been put in the leadership positions, plus it’s great to see that Michael’s Realtors are committed to helping other fellow Realtors succeed. It's true, I'm here to tell you!
Mike Staver, keynote speaker and executive coach, shared that changing our physiology can change our day; giving clarity to our boundaries—discover what zaps our energy; finding an accountability partner (no one we live with), and living in alignment consistently with our core values. Those who have a profoundly grateful heart can change their lives; submerging ourselves 3 minutes a day in full gratitude for six weeks makes a difference in our business productivity. Matthew Ferrara, key note speaker, philosopher, photographer, writer, and former realtor, spoke about marketing: in 2014-15, people were rushing to buy, creating low inventory. 2017 has seen a shift, and a higher inventory has reset Sellers’ expectations in this correcting market. People now have choices so they are taking their time. Sellers must price their homes correctly in this market; for example, they are now competing with new homes. In Sarasota, we are in the center of the Florida market—Florida lead the recession and we also lead the nation out of it. Long-term growth includes funding amenities as we grow. Selfie marketing with our IPhone is over…people won’t see our selfies because they are busy taking their own! Look up from cell phones and tap into creativity, discovering what we REALLY do will set us apart from our competition. Our customers expect us to be unique!
Thank you for reading my blog, and I’m here to help you in Sarasota and Venice, Florida, with your real estate needs. Please visit my home page at www.LindaHrealtor.com for helpful real estate information. I’m at 941-914-4914. Please don’t text and drive!
Before I became a Realtor, I was clueless about what it took to buy and sell a home. When it came to selling property, I’ll admit thinking about paying a 6% commission to a Realtor was just money thrown away. It would be easy enough, I thought, to just put an ad in the newspaper and my beautiful little gulf condo in Seaside, Florida, would sell quickly. Even worse, our homeowners association had an experienced, on-site agent with local connections, who was available to show the property 7 days a week, and I lived in Atlanta, Georgia! What was wrong with this scenario? Everything!
I was a career analyst with U.S. Department of Defense, knew a lot about Defense, but nothing about real estate. I would drive from Atlanta to Seaside on the weekends, thinking that I would meet potential Buyers who had called during the week. I was my own best enemy, handled the property management/rentals, so I had a cell phone with a local area code (like that would make a difference). Of course, I knew what these condos were selling for, but that’s about all I knew about real estate. Not sure what I had on hand for a contract, probably something I got online, and I did not know about getting a local real estate law firm to review the terms of a contract—if I were to get one--and give me advice. Sure, I had some calls, but no one came to see my beautiful little condo; there were a few “no-shows. ” This would have been a perfect opportunity for a Realtor to contact me and explain the value of the services they provide.
First, I did not know that as a second home, I would need to re-invest the profit within 180 days, or pay capital gains taxes. I had no idea about accepting and protecting the Buyers’ deposits or if they had been prequalified by a lender or if they had the cash if they were a cash buyer. Did I understand home inspections and my responsibilities as a Seller? No! What would have happened if either the Buyer or I were in default of the contract? Big legal troubles, and I certainly had no money for legal fees.
My beach condo did not sell, so the next year, I contacted a Realtor who had it repainted blue and added some decorative staging items, such as new pictures and mirrors. It was cute and well done, but I took it off the market during the season to generate rental income, and that was another mistake. Several months later, when I was ready to sell, the market began to tank and by then we had a $20,000 assessment to shore up the sagging balconies and take care of mold issues. The property was stigmatized in the local real estate community, and nothing was selling. The homeowners association voted not to sue the developer, and when I obtained a copy of all of the minutes of the prior homeowners association meetings—even before my time as a homeowner there--I learned that the sagging balcony issues had been brought up in the past, but guess what? The board members had all sold their units and were gone, leaving the rest of us behind to find and fix the problems they knew about. That’s another law suit waiting to happen!
I visited a good construction litigator law firm in Pensacola, Florida, and explained the issues and he agreed to take on a class action suit against the developer and contractors, but he needed 2/3 of the owners to agree. I could not get more than 5 out of 120 to agree to go forward with this class action suit. That was my first experience with out-of-state owners who don’t have the time to worry about their second homes.
So we all paid the $20,000 assessments, fixed the problems, and had good income tax write-offs. But nothing sold at market price in that development for years.
In 2000, I decided to sell my townhome in Atlanta, and used a Realtor whom I did not know. I called a national brokerage firm in the area and she answered the phone. I was her worst nightmare, and that was 7 years before I got my real estate license. Selling my pride and joy was not my idea, my boyfriend wanted me to move to Athens, Georgia. If you have not been to Athens, it’s 90 minutes from Atlanta, a great place to party during University of Georgia football season, but not much else going on the rest of the year. My Atlanta townhome was under contract within days with a full-price offer, but I had surgery scheduled. The home inspector nickeled and dimed me to death, it made me mad, I could not meet the timelines of repairs prior to closing, and became furious and tried to terminate the contract. The broker was on my doorstep explaining that if I terminated the contract, I would owe them $10,000 in real estate fees since they had brought me a ready, willing, and able Buyer and I was under contract. He suggested that I give $2,500 to the Buyer at closing for the repairs, and apologized for his Realtor’s incompetence handling this matter. I did not understand until I became a Realtor what he meant: credits at closing for disputed items are standard practice in this business.
So I think about these things when I see signs, For Sale by Owner (FSBO). Sellers don’t realize that when a Buyer sees a FSBO, they automatically take six percent off the top of their offer because they know the Seller has saved that on the real estate commission. Another reason to not listing your home FSBO is safety. I often think about the scientist with Center for Disease Control in Atlanta who had just retired, about to be married, and had her property for sale as a FSBO. Her fiancée found her strangled in the kitchen pantry. This was a safe building, she thought, they even had security, but she let the wrong person in. In Atlanta, Realtors don’t take Buyers out unless they are prequalified by a lender or we have proof of funds for the purchase. I was very fortunate to have been trained by Harry Norman, Realtors in Atlanta, the premiere real estate brokerage, and the firm where Michael Saunders was mentored in her early real estate career.
A good Realtor will contact a FSBO Seller and ask to see their home because it’s our job to know the inventory. We will ask if the Seller will protect us with a 3% commission if we bring them a Buyer, and no Seller has ever told me no. I sold a beautiful condo Botanica, Palmer Ranch to a delightful couple whom I had met at an Open House two years prior. They told me what they wanted, and I consistently wrote to the homeowners in Botanica with that floor plan. One Seller was ready to list, but she called me first because she had saved my mailing; fortunately, the Buyers were in town and they put it under contract immediately. This was the smoothest transaction, no games, Buyers and Seller agreed on everything. We did negotiate a good price, but the Seller paid for no repairs, so it was “As-Is.”
Thinking about selling your home? Updates are important if you want to sell quickly for a good price. Some Sellers believe updating is a waste of money because the Buyers may have different taste. If in doubt, just go to a new home community, snap some pictures, and copy what they have done with the granite, backsplashes, and paint colors. Two shades of gray paint with white trim is clean and lovely. The Botanica home I discussed above was updated, fresh, and that’s why it sold so quickly.
This week, I’ll present a market analysis to Sellers and was delighted with a list of 20 updates they sent me. It’s a little comical but when I have Buyers in the car and they find a home they like that needs updating, the lady frequently says, “But honey, you can do this, you are retired and need a PROJECT!” And he always says, “But honey, I don’t WANT to because I am retired…” and he always wins.
Walk to the beach! 5302 Cape Leyte Drive, Siesta Isles, Siesta Key Beach single family home, garage, large lot, newer AC, fabulous neighborhood, reduced to $619,000.
8239 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key Beach, single family, 2+ bedroom, 2 baths, waterfront with dock, kayak launch, and guest cottage, $1,200,000, listed by Michael Saunders & Company.
8319 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key, single family home, 4 BR, 2.5 BA, designer showcase, everything still intact from “Jewels on the Bay” home tour. $3,495,000, listed by Michael Saunders & Company.
Coming soon! Three bedroom three bath single family pool home in Marbella subdivision in Palmer Ranch, 2,685 square feet, built in 1990 low $500’s.
Thank you for reading my blog, please do not text and drive, and please call me if I can help you with your Sarasota and Siesta Key real estate needs.
Linda Holley, Realtor, GRI
941-914-4914
Email: LindaHolley@MichaelSaunders.com
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