Venice Area Homes Blog

Announcing the Venice FL OPEN HOUSE EVENT on March 21, 2010

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 07:43:17 -0600

The Venice Area Board of Realtors (VABR) PR/Media Committee has been organizing a Regional Open House event to be held on Sunday, March 21st AND the Florida Realtors (FAR) announced a Statewide Open House Event for the weekend of April 10-11. MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

In addition to Press Releases and announcements posted to various community calendars, VABR will also be promoting the event in both papers the week previous to and the week of March 24. The value and success of this event will hinge on the involvement of all our Realtor and affiliate members. The goal is to have as many homes open on that day as is possible! Would suggest that:

Individual Realtors include their referral network in their Open House planning and use resources such as Home/Pest Inspectors, Mortgage Lenders, Title Companies, Stagers, etc.

Realtors, to our seasonal guests, we are often the face or the Ambassadors of our community. The members of VABR, by working together, can position Venice Realtors as the Realtors of choice for consumers considering buying or selling in the Venice Area.

If you are considering selling your home and would like to participate in this event please give me a call. I am happy to answer any questions you may have.

Contact Kari A. Battaglia, PA GRI SFR SRES^®, licensed REALTOR® in Venice Florida at 941-270-1851 to list your home, answer general questions or to help you search for homes for sale in Venice Florida. I currently serve customers in Venice Florida, Englewood Florida, Nokomis Florida, South Venice, Laurel, Osprey and Casey Key and Manasota Key communities. As a private landowner, I also have Tennessee properties available in the Chattanooga area. Call or email me to receive a list of Tennessee properties available for sale.

DiscoverVeniceRealEstate.com - FREE MLS Search, Buyers guide, Sellers guide, Community Info/Links

Yikes! Fannie Mae is Cracking Down!

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:58:30 -0600

Via Mortgage Support Services:

There are some new rules going into effect shortly that will have an enormous effect on some mortgage transactions. Here's the biggest one:

Effective for all loan applications dated June 1, 2010 and later, Fannie Mae is "requiring lenders to determine that all debts of the borrower incurred or closed up to and concurrent with the closing of the subject mortgage are disclosed on the final loan application and included in the qualification for the subject mortgage loan."

Here's what it means. If a borrower opens a new account or increases the balance on an existing account between the time of application and the closing, the new debt has to be included. The best case is that the closing gets delayed. The worst case is that the borrower no longer qualifies for the loan and the deal is dead.

Fannie Mae provides the following "tips for lenders to consider" when attempting to find undisclosed liabilities. That's Fannie Mae Speak for "Do these things or else!"

- Refreshing a credit report just prior to closing may uncover additional debt or credit inquiries.

- Credit inquiries found on the credit report should be investigated to determine whether the borrower did in fact open additional debt resulting in repayment obligations. In some cases, it is possible to obtain a direct verification with the creditor associated with the inquiry.

- Fraud-detection tools are available through multiple vendors that assist lenders in identifying undisclosed mortgages or other potentially fraudulent scenarios.

Fannie Mae is not requiring these things until June 1, but lenders are allowed to implement them earlier. Many lenders probably will.

Be prepared! The mortgage industry has changed and continues to change. Being in the industry for 20 years means nothing if you don't stay up to date with all the changes. If your current lender has not already told you about these new rules, ask him why he hasn't. Maybe it's time to change lenders.

Short Sale in Venice FL - 2BR/2BA in Quiet South Venice Neighborhood

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:47:52 -0600

Kari A. Battaglia | Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate | kari@discovervenicerealestate.com | 941.270.1851

3635 Pine road, Venice, FL

Short Sale Opportunity - 2BR/2BA in quiet South Venice neighborhood.

2BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $109,000

Year Built	1967
Sq Footage	1,052
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	Unspecified
Parking	1 Covered spaces
Lot Size	10,000 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

**Short Sale** Nicely remodeled 2 bedroom 2 bath home in a quiet South Venice neighborhood. Maple wood laminate and ceramic tile flooring, kitchen has been updated with maple wood cabinets and tile back splash, smartly designed. Large open living/dining area perfect for 2. Back room can be used for den/office/media room. Close to South Venice Ferry, Shamrock Park & Natural Science Center and miles of bike paths along scenic Intracoastal Waterway. Moments away from some of the worlds most beautiful beaches, local dining, lots of shopping and boating/fishing activities. **Sale subject to lender approval**

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C

- Central heat

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Wood laminate & tile flooring

- Wood cabinets in kitchen

- Tile back splash

- Large Great Room

- Close to South Venice Ferry

- Close to Shamrock Park

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front Exterior	Kitchen
Great Room	Bath
Back Patio	Shed

Contact info:

Kari A. Battaglia

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate

kari@discovervenicerealestate.com

941.270.1851

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Mar 4, 2010, 5:24pm PST

Home for sale in Nokomis FL, 2BR/2BA with Hardwood Floors

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:01:03 -0600

Kari A. Battaglia | Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate | 941.270.1851

911 Colonia Lane, Nokomis, FL

2BR/2BA Nokomis FL completely remodeled down to new footers.

2BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $129,000

Year Built	1973
Sq Footage	1,304
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	Unspecified
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	6,249 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Forget what age the tax records say, this house has been redone all the way down to new footers. This 2 bedroom 2 bath home is perfect for a seasonal homeowners or first time homebuyer. Large open great room w/upgraded ceiling fans has hardwood flooring. The kitchen is open to the great room and appointed with maple wood cabinets and brand new appliances include dishwasher, refrigerator, range, microwave hood, washer and dryer. It will be a pleasure to cook in this new kitchen. Sunroom can be used for den/office/media room or sitting room, nice addition to this adorable home. Back yard is completely fenced in and has a nice sun deck for those days you want to Florida's beautifully warm weather and you will also find a storage shed. Close to bus line, Nokomis Community Park, great shopping, local dining and some of the world's most beautiful beaches.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- High/Vaulted ceiling
- Hardwood floor	- Tile floor	- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven	- Microwave
- Dryer	- Laundry area - inside	- Yard

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Maple Wood Cabinets

- Hardwood & Ceramic Tile Flooring

- Fenced In Backyard

- Sun Deck

- Large Great Room

- Bonus Room

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front Exterior	Kitchen
Main Bath	Great Room
Sun Room	Sun Deck

Contact info:

Kari A. Battaglia

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate

941.270.1851

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Mar 4, 2010, 4:36pm PST

Waterfront Home in Englewood FL - Buy A Home For Your Boat

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:36:24 -0600

Kari A. Battaglia | Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate | 941.270.1851

2100 Bay Drive, Englewood, FL

Breathtaking Key West style southwest Florida waterfront home with panoramic views of Lemon Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway.

3BR/3BA Single Family House

offered at $1,595,000

Year Built	1988
Sq Footage	3,176
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	3 full, 0 partial
Floors	Unspecified
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	43,560 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Breathtaking Key West style waterfront home with panoramic views of Lemon Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway. Located on the tip of Bay Drive in Englewood, this 3 story tropical home offers over 200' of seawall with private dock and 14000lb lift. Just seconds to ICW and short boat ride to Boca Grande where you will find some of the best fishing in the world. Kitchen/morning room with lots of windows features an island and breakfast bar with granite counter tops, spacious living area with 2 story high ceilings and sliding doors that lead out to the huge wraparound porch, giving you plenty of room to entertain and enjoy the 270 degree water views. The top floor you will find sitting area, Master suite with private balcony and an additional full suite with private balcony. Ground floor has parking for 3 cars, storage area, workshop and an outside patio right on the bay and homeowner says there is room for a pool. Property is located off of Placida Road, short distance to shopping, beaches, local dining and Boca Grande. This is Florida living at its best; the fish around this home are unbelievable - perfect for fisherman and water enthusiasts.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- High/Vaulted ceiling
- Walk-in closet	- Hardwood floor	- Tile floor
- Living room	- Dining room	- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven	- Granite countertop
- Stainless steel appliances	- Washer	- Dryer
- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Garage parking

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Panoramic Views of Lemon Bay & ICW

- Private Dock with 14,000lb Lift

- Wrap Around Porches

- Minutes to Boca Grande, Beaches, Local Dining

- Some of the Best Fishing in the World

- Views of Mohawk Island

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 1	Photo 1
Photo 1	Photo 1

Contact info:

Kari A. Battaglia

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate

941.270.1851

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Mar 1, 2010, 11:21am PST

Budweiser Clydesdales Are Visiting Venice FL

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 07:06:47 -0600

Venice MainStreet, Inc.
Wednesday February 24, 2010

Gold Coast Eagle Distributing announces that the Budweiser Clydesdales are returning to Venice. They will be at Downtown Venice on Thursday, March 4 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

The staging will be at the Community Center beginning at 4:00 pm, where you can see the Clydesdales stepping out of their trailers. At 5:00 pm, from the Center they will proceed down Nassau Avenue to Miami Avenue to Nokomis Avenue then on to Venice Avenue, then back to the Community Center.

This will be another great opportunity to see the Budweiser Clydesdales in action; thank you to Gulf Coast Eagle Distributing and Venice Chamber of Commerce.

Come and enjoy all that Downtown Venice has to offer!

Venice MainStreet, Inc. Mission is:

Historic Preservation, Beautification, Community Vitality and Economic Vitality

DiscoverVeniceRealEstate.com - FREE MLS Search, Buyers guide, Sellers guide, Community Info/Links

Wordless Wednesday - Venice Florida's Banyan Tree

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:04:28 -0600

In Venice Florida, one of our largest and most beautiful trees is the Banyan Tree. This tree is one of the many trees that line the main road to Venice Beach on Venice Avenue.

DiscoverVeniceRealEstate.com - FREE MLS Search, Buyers guide, Sellers guide, Community Info/Links

Make your next open house a SAFE one

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 09:46:27 -0600

Recently a homeowner who was unhappy with their agent called me to preview their home and give them my suggestions. I thought - great, an opportunity to pick up another listing. When I arrived the homeowner showed me around but something just did not feel right and I was beginning to realize I was alone in the house with this guy. While the homeowner was giving me the tour there was a power outage and there we were in the dark. It was daylight but all the blinds were lowered. This concerned me even more. We continued to talk but there were several times he put his hand on my shoulder. I instantly put distance between us and asked him to show me the canal in the backyard. I just felt like I needed to get outside in the open. This is the first time that I have ever felt concerned for my personal safety. Our meeting ended and I left a little shaken but I now have an appreciation for importance of taking precautions to avoid situations that put myself at risk.

At my last sales meeting, our title company's rep gave us a timely article about the importance of safety when conducting an open house. Considering my recent experience I really wanted to share this with all my Active Rain friends and hope to pass on to you the importance of being safe.

MAKE YOUR NEXT OPEN HOUSE A SAFE ONE

An open house can be a great sales tool, but it also exposes you to a number of unfamiliar people for the first time, and your personal safety should be first and foremost. Your seller's security is also a high priority. Not everyone you are going to meet intends to purchase the home, and a few may have criminal intentions. With these reasons in mind, Realtors and homeowners alike should practice these guidelines when holding an open house.

Check your cell phone to make sure it is fully charged prior to the open house. Keep it handy at all times. Have emergency numbers programmed on speed dial. Also keep the house key and your keys with you at all times.
Advise your sellers to hide any valuables and jewelry in a safe and secure place and keep all prescription drugs out of plain sight.
When holding open houses in a remote area or a home that will generate high traffic it is a good idea to bring another agent or person to help assist with the open house.
When you initially approach the property, check out the neighborhood and look for anything out of place, making sure not one is paying unwanted attention to you or following you. If there is any doubt, seek assistance immediately.
Inform a neighbor that you will be having an open house, so they may be an extra set of eyes and ears for anything out of the ordinary.
Walk the perimeter of the home. Notice all exits including doors and windows as possible escape routes. See what the exits are in the backyard, notices any locks on fences and gates.
Make sure all deadbolts are unlocked to facilitate a faster escape.
Treat all prospects in the same manner and by the same rules. If you make it clear that all visitors must sign in to view the home, legitimate prospects won't mind and may be favorably impressed. They will think "He or she will be just as protective our home."
Check all rooms for someone who might be in the house and be prepared to run or defend yourself if necessary.
When showing the house, always walk behind the prospect. Direct them; don't lead them. Say for example, "The kitchen is on your left." Don't let yourself get trapped in, make sure that you are always by the door of each room so you can always walk away if needed.
Notify someone at your office, a friend or relative that you will be calling in at certain times and have an appointed time for them to call you.
Establish a prearranged password you can use on the phone if you are in any way uncomfortable with the situation. It might be a simple as "don't forget to feed the dog."
At an open house, be alert on the pattern of visitors' arrivals, especially near the end of the showing hours. In some areas, a group of thieves may show up together near the end of the open house and, while a string of supposed buyers distract the agent, the thieves steal any valuables the come across.
Check all windows and doors to make sure they are locked and secure before leaving, there have been cases where someone has unlocked a window at an open house and returned later to burglarize the property or hide in a closet and wait while everybody is gone before doing their criminal deeds.
If you do have to work an open house alone, mention "that you're expecting a lot of people today and that your partner will be there shortly to assist you."
You should always immediately call the homeowner when the open house is finished. When the homeowner returns they can then double check to see that their house is safe, checking that all doors are locked and all valuables are accounted for and everything is secure.

A final word - TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS! Be aware of your surroundings. Don't be afraid to ask someone to accompany you to show or list property if you feel uncomfortable or uneasy with the people you are meeting. Put your own personal safety first.

DiscoverVeniceRealEstate.com - FREE MLS Search, Buyers guide, Sellers guide, Community Info/Links

Venice Golf & Country Club Property Update Report Jan 2010

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:35:56 -0600

Venice Golf & Country Club Property Update Report by Kari A. Battaglia

For more information please call (941)-270-1851

The report summarizes listings sold, as well as active/pending listings for Venice Golf & Country Club. Listings summarized in the following table are based on information from the Mid Florida Regional MLS and/or other MLS Services. Properties sold were not all listed by Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate and were listed by various MLS participating offices. Please note that For Sale By Owner properties are excluded because they often do not represent the full value of what they could sell for when properly priced and exposed to a greater number of qualified buyers through a professional real estate agent. The most recent listings sold are shown in more detail below as they represent the best indication of change in property values.

Summary of Sold Listings for Venice Golf & Country Club

Sold Date

Address

Bed/Bath

Year Built

List Price

Sold Price

% Diff List vs. Sold Price

Days On Market

06/05/09 407 Huntridge Dr 4/3.1 1993 $595,000 $555,000 -6.72% 420

06/30/09 313 Lansbrook Dr 3/2 1994 $299,900 $240,000 -19.97% 239

08/04/09 319 Lansbrook Dr 3/2 1995 $249,900 $250,000 +0.1% 83

08/14/09 411 Wellington Ct 3/3 1992 $379,000 $320,000 -15.56% 301

08/14/09 411 Lansbrook Dr 4/3 1996 $539,000 $480,000 -10.94% 296

09/15/09 513 Summerfield 3/2 2001 $275,000 $276,000 +0.03% 122

09/18/09 397 Autumn Chase 4/3 1994 $598,000 $560,000 -6.35% 119

09/25/09 421 Autumn Chase 4/3 2005 $675,000 $638,000 -5.48% 18

09/30/09 232 Vestavia Dr 3/3 1991 $295,000 $266,500 -9.66% 478

11/16/09 332 Melrose Ct 3/2 1995 $287,000 $265,000 -7.66% 52

12/17/09 321 Lansbrook Dr 3/2 1995 $227,900 $216,450 -5.02% 124

12/28/09 215 Vestavia Dr 3/2 1991 $260,000 $240,000 -7.69% 416

12/28/09 415 Fieldstone Dr 4/3 1993 $495,000 $445,500 -10% 483

12/30/09 479 Summerfield 3/23 1992 $499,000 $460,000 -7.81% 330

Summary of Activity for Venice Golf & Country Club

Date Range

#Sold

Average Price

# Now For Sale

Average Price

#Under Contract

Average Price

06/01/09 -12/31/09 14 $372,317 48 $389,162 2 $329,499

01/01/09 - 06/01/09 2 $265,000 n/a n/a n/a n/a

06/01/08 - 12/31/08 12 $381,100 n/a n/a n/a n/a

The number of properties available for sale in the Venice/Englewood area real estate markets increased for the first time in months, up 3.1% from December 2009; 3232 homes for sale to 3331. Sales that are pending in the area are up sharply, over 48% from December 2009; 347 properties pending to 549 properties pending and closed sales have decreased from December 2009 by 23.2%, from 370 properties sold to 284 for month of January 2010. The increase in homes for sale in January can be attributed to a number of reasons; waiting to list your home for sale until after the holidays are over or waiting to list your home for sale until the season officially begins. Whatever the reasons for the increase we are still in a Buyers' Market. The Homebuyers Tax Credit is soon ending (you have to be under contract by April 30^th to realize the $8000 First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit or the $6500 Move Up Credit). Mortgage rates are rising, currently in the 5% range and soon is expected to increase to the 6% range, still historically low rates and very affordable for homebuyers.

Contact Kari A. Battaglia, PA GRI SRES^®, licensed REALTOR® in Venice Florida at 941-270-1851 to list your home, answer general questions or to help you search for homes for sale in Venice Florida. I currently serve customers in Venice Florida, Englewood Florida, Nokomis Florida, South Venice, Laurel, Osprey and Casey Key and Manasota Key communities. As a private landowner, I also have Tennessee properties available in the Chattanooga area. Call or email me to receive a list of Tennessee properties available for sale.

DiscoverVeniceRealEstate.com - FREE MLS Search, Buyers guide, Sellers guide, Community Info/Links

Jacaranda West Venice FL Market Update Report Dec 2009

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:57:38 -0600

Property Update Report by Kari A. Battaglia

For more information please call (941)-270-1851

The report summarizes listings sold, as well as active/pending listings for Jacaranda West. Listings summarized in the following table are based on information from the Mid Florida Regional MLS and/or other MLS Services. Properties sold were not all listed by Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate and were listed by various MLS participating offices. Please note that For Sale By Owner properties are excluded because they often do not represent the full value of what they could sell for when properly priced and exposed to a greater number of qualified buyers through a professional real estate agent. The most recent listings sold are shown in more detail below as they represent the best indication of change in property values.

Summary of Solds for Jacaranda West

Sold Date

Address

Bed/Bath

Year Built

List Price

Sold Price

% Diff List vs. Sold Price

Days On Market

11/06/09 1702 Sklar Ct 3/2 1976 $298,900 $260,000 -13.01% 51

11/10/09 1704 Reef Ct 3/2 1974 $149,900 $165,000 +10.0% 115

11/30/09 1132 Olga Ct 2/2 1981 $159,900 $159,900 0.00% 9

12/04/09 1811 Oakwood 3/2 1983 $288,500 $250,000 -13.34% 131

Summary of Activity for Jacaranda West

Date Range

#Sold

Average Price

# Now For Sale

Average Price

#Under Contract

Average Price

11/09/09-01/11/10 4 $224,300 17 $233,497 7 $171,671

09/09/09-11/09/09 8 $218,750 19 $248,297 9 $210,166

06/01/09 -09/28/09 11 $213,263 13 $243,208 10 $187,250

01/01/09 - 05/31/09 6 $188,417 n/a n/a n/a n/a

06/01/08 - 12/31/08 12 $190,441 n/a n/a n/a n/a

DiscoverVeniceRealEstate.com - FREE MLS Search, Buyers guide, Sellers guide, Community Info/Links

Sawgrasss Property Update Report

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:36:41 -0600

Property Update Report by Kari A. Battaglia

For more information please call (941)-270-1851

The report summarizes listings sold, as well as active/pending listings for Sawgrass of Venice. Listings summarized in the following table are based on information from the Mid Florida Regional MLS and/or other MLS Services. Properties sold were not all listed by Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate and were listed by various MLS participating offices. Please note that For Sale By Owner properties are excluded because they often do not represent the full value of what they could sell for when properly priced and exposed to a greater number of qualified buyers through a professional real estate agent. The most recent listings sold are shown in more detail below as they represent the best indication of change in property values.

Summary of Solds for Sawgrass

Sold Date

Address

Bed/Bath

Year Built

List Price

Sold Price

% Diff List vs. Sold Price

Days On Market

10/15/09 617 Misty Pine Dr 3/2 2003 $345,000 $320,000 -7.24% 75

10/28/09 325 Marsh Creek 3/2 2003 $363,000 $349,000 -3.85% 9

11/23/09 588 Mossy Creek 3/2 1998 $349,900 $330,000 -5.68% 106

11/30/09 704 Misty Pine Dr 3/2 1998 $325,000 $295,000 -9.23% 277

11/30/09 531 Sawgrass Bridge 3/2 2007 $469,900 $440,000 -6.36% 936

12/18/09 390 Marsh Creek 3/2 2002 $339,000 $349,000 -10.02 % 333

2/22/09 690 Pond Willow 3/2.1 2000 $299,900 $270,000 -9.96% 99

01/05/10 408 Otter Creek 3/2 2002 $449,900 $396,000 -11.98% 160

01/07/10 526 Marsh Creek 3/2 2000 $424,900 $397,500 -6.45% 21

Summary of Activity for Sawgrass

Date Range

#Sold

Average Price

# Now For Sale

Average Price

#Under Contract

Average Price

10/01/09-02/15/10 9 $349,611 19 $424,757 1 $388,000

Contact Kari A. Battaglia, PA GRI SRES^®, licensed REALTOR® in Venice Florida at 941-270-1851 to list your home, answer general questions or to help you search for homes for sale in Venice Florida. I currently serve customers in Venice Florida, Englewood Florida, Nokomis Florida, South Venice, Laurel, Osprey and Casey Key and Manasota Key communities. As a private landowner, I also have Tennessee properties available in the Chattanooga area. Call or email me to receive a list of Tennessee properties available for sale.

DiscoverVeniceRealEstate.com - FREE MLS Search, Buyers guide, Sellers guide, Community Info/Links

Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club Market Update Report

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:59:32 -0600

Property Update Report by Kari A. Battaglia

For more information please call (941)-270-1851

The report summarizes listings sold, as well as active/pending listings for Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club. Listings summarized in the following table are based on information from the Mid Florida Regional MLS and/or other MLS Services. Properties sold were not all listed by Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate and were listed by various MLS participating offices. Please note that For Sale By Owner properties are excluded because they often do not represent the full value of what they could sell for when properly priced and exposed to a greater number of qualified buyers through a professional real estate agent. The most recent listings sold are shown in more detail below as they represent the best indication of change in property values.

Summary of Solds Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club 10/1/2009 to 2/15/2010

Sold Date

Address

Bed/Bath

Year Built

List Price

Sold Price

% Diff List vs. Sold Price

Days On Market

10/20/09 1843 San Silvestro 3/2 2001 $239,900 $225,900 -5.83% 44

11/04/09 1779 San Silvestro 2/2 2000 $184,900 $175,000 -5.35 % 56

11/30/09 1175 Tuscany Blvd 3/2 2005 $499,500 $450,000 -9.90% 10

12/08/09 1098 Tuscany Blvd 4/2 2007 $469,000 $350,000 -25.37% 42

12/09/09 1757 San Silvestro 3/2 2000 $244,900 $235,000 -9.99% 97

12/10/09 411 Pelican Moorings 3/2 1997 $349,900 $320,000 -8.54 % 237

12/15/09 1805 San Silvestro 2/2 2001 $199,000 $169,000 -15.07% 636

12/17/09 1334 Tuscany Blvd 3/3 2003 $529,900 $475,000 -10.36% 65

12/18/09 1045 Tuscany Blvd 3/3 2006 $599,900 $570,000 -4.98% 60

12/29/09 456 Fairway Isles 3/3 1996 $279,900 $256,000 -8.53% 34

12/29/09 1310 Highland Green 2/2 2000 $335,500 $308,000 -8.19 % 27

12/30/09 1892 San Silvestro 2/2 2002 $189,700 $185,000 -2.47% 375

12/30/09 1156 Coral Lake 3/3 1998 $389,000 $370,000 -4.88% 625

12/30/09 828 Amaryllis Lane 3/3 2006 $619,900 $582,500 -6.0% 238

01/06/10 1675 San Silvestro 2/2 2002 $259,000 $225,000 -13.12 66

01/08/10 1673 San Silvestro 2/2 2001 $239,900 $226,000 -5.79% 32

1/19/10 953 Chickadee Dr 3/3 2001 $579,000 $537,000 -7.25% 87

01/29/10 1803 San Silvestro 2/2 2001 $199,900 $180,000 -9.95 % 23

02/08/10 590 Back Nine Dr 2/2 2001 $199,999 $182,500 -8.74% 484

02/12/10 1093 Tuscany Blvd 4/3 2005 $422,900 $395,000 -6.59% 48

Summary of Activity for Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club

Date Range

#Sold

Average Price

# Now For Sale

Average Price

#Under Contract

Average Price

10/01/09-02/15/10 20 $351,624 55 $432,969 9 $364,111

Contact Kari A. Battaglia, PA GRI SRES^®, licensed REALTOR® in Venice Florida at 941-270-1851 to list your home, answer general questions or to help you search for homes for sale in Venice Florida. I currently serve customers in Venice Florida, Englewood Florida, Nokomis Florida, South Venice, Laurel, Osprey and Casey Key and Manasota Key communities. As a private landowner, I also have Tennessee properties available in the Chattanooga area. Call or email me to receive a list of Tennessee properties available for sale.

DiscoverVeniceRealEstate.com - FREE MLS Search, Buyers guide, Sellers guide, Community Info/Links

What Buyers need to know about FSBO (For Sale by Owner) properties

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 08:00:09 -0600

Buyer respresentation is extremely important these days. Thanks to Lori for sharing her story.

Via Lori Cain - Midtown Tulsa Real Estate (Chinowth & Cohen Realtors):

What Buyers need to know about FSBO (For Sale by Owner) properties

My favorite Lender, Juliana James-Thomas of 1st Capital Mortgage, contacted me about a client interested in purchasing a FSBO property - “for sale by owner.” She was concerned that he didn’t have his own representation and that he may be paying too much for the property. The Buyer feels rushed to make an offer on the property because the Sellers have offered to pay a portion of his closing costs and have come down from their original list price.

Juliana asked me to investigate to determine if the Buyer was indeed getting a good price on the “for sale by owner” property. He is getting pre-qualified in preparation to make an offer. Many Lenders wouldn’t care whether their client are actually paying a fair price, but Juliana takes a very personal and ethical approach to lending, which is why she builds client relationships for life.

I did some quick research on the property, and the “for sale by owner” property is over-priced by at least $10,000. In fact, the Sellers are asking almost $30,000 more than they paid for the property four years ago and from what I can tell from our MLS data (Multiple Listing Service), they have made limited improvements since their purchase.

Even IF Seller and Buyer agree on price, this property may have a problem appraising for the agreed-upon sales price, and that won’t be discovered until the Buyer has already spent $400 on an appraisal and possibly $500 on inspections. What happens then?

What Buyers need to know about FSBO (For Sale by Owner) properties

Often Buyers think they will get a better deal on For Sale by Owner properties because the Seller is not paying Realtor commissions. In actuality, Sellers rarely pass that savings along to the Buyer. Without having Realtor representation, a Buyer will often pay too much for a property and not negotiate needed repairs or know to ask for a residential service agreement.

Buyers, please take advantage of the many services a Buyer’s agent can offer you. We can access records to determine what was originally paid for a property, what improvements have been made, what the Sellers owe on the property and much more.

We help people buy houses every day, so we can craft an offer asking for the appropriate amount for repairs, closing costs, home warranties and more. We will be aware of what will likely be an appraisal requirement and will know if the house will appraise for the amount paid.

We will guide you through the buying process -- the largest investment you will make in your life time.

With the deadline approaching for 1st-time home Buyers to be under contract by April 30th, please contact me if you are considering purchasing a home.

Time is of the essence and Buyer representation is PRICELESS.

Lori is a residential Realtor serving the greater Tulsa area, and specializing in midtown Tulsa real estate. Please visit Lori’s web site, LoriCain.com or call 918-852-5036.
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Let's Get Connected!

If you're looking for homes for sale in Midtown Tulsa, OK or just more information on Midtown Tulsa Real Estate, you can visit my primary website at www.loricain.com

CitiMortgage Rolls Out A New Program For Delinquent Homeowners- Give Us The Keys...

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 07:13:17 -0600

Thank you Katerina for this important information.

Via Nestor & Katerina Gasset Realtors® Wellington Florida Luxury Homes (International Properties and Investments, Inc.):

CitiMortgage rolled out a new program for delinquent homeowners and homeowners who are in foreclosure in Florida. CitiMortgage says:

"Give us the keys and we will let you stay for six months for free."

Before you jump on this so called deal here are some facts about Florida Foreclosures followed by our Real estate agent take on this.

Is there really an advantage to you, the homeowner in this offer from CitiMortgage? According to most attorneys we have spoken with, their answer is not really.

Once you are served a summons and complaint which would be in this instance CitiMortgage filing a law suit complaint against you as the homeowner- you have 20 days in which to respond to the complaint. If you hire an attorney or go to the legal aid society if you can not afford an attorney- they will file a defense or a counter complaint in court.

At that point, there will have to be a hearing scheduled. Most of the time here in the state of Florida- you will be able to have your foreclosure postponed for much longer than 6 months.

We know people who have not made a mortgage payment in over 24 months and are still living in their homes.

Take that in consideration before jumping on CitiMortgage's offer. They make it sound very good but they are not in business to protect you or to help you. They are in the business to cut their losses and what is in the best interest of their company and their shareholders, although the latter is questionable at best.

Turning in your keys is called a "Deed In Lieu of Foreclosure".

Remember too, there are rules that must be adhered to even in Deed In Lieu and unless CitiMortgage is also going to change the rules you may not even qualify for the Turn in the Keys program.

If you have a second loan on your property or a HELOC on your property, your second lender has to be taken care of before a Deed in Lieu can be processed. If you don't have the money to pay your mortgage payment you most likely don't have money to pay your second note off either.

Also, if you do a Deed in Lieu- the mark on your credit report is the same as a foreclosure.

A Deed in Lieu is nothing more than giving up your rights to a judicial foreclosure. It is a foreclosure without going to court.

There is most often a much better way to deal with your foreclosure filing and that is to do a SHORT SALE.

First, let me say to CitiMortgage that we as agents have had a solution to your foreclosure problem for years now and it is called a SHORT SALE!

All you have to do is relieve the homeowners of a deficiency and release the lien and give clear title to a new purchaser thereby circumventing you having to own yet another property.

Why can you not give the same deal to a SHORT SALE as you are offering to a DEED IN LIEU?

Therein lies the mystery.

This gets us to thinking, why is it that you want to own all these properties? Is there something you are not telling us?

There are qualified short sale Realtors® in the state of Florida who are ready to help you solve the foreclosure problem you are complaining about.

CitiMortgage's CEO of CitiMortgage- Sanjiv Das says: "We're committed to finding every solution possible to help families facing foreclosure. Not every homeowner has the financial stability to remain in their home." No S&%# Sherlock!

THEN CITIMORTGAGE: Embrace the SHORT SALE! It will save your shareholders money. You won't have to keep holding on to Phantom Inventory. You won't have to be a landlord. It will help home values. It will stabilize neighborhoods. It will help the economy. But then again, is there something here that we don't see?

In Florida CitiMortgage has over 12 % of their loans in a 90 days or more delinquent status. Nationwide that number is 6%. 42% of all the loan modifications that CitiMortgage approved in Florida are now 60 days one year after their loan modification was approved.

We will go into further detail about the follies and idiocies of the loan modification programs and how those are set up for failure from the onset.

This post does NOT constitute legal advise. You should seek the legal advice of a qualified attorney who works in the foreclosure field. We are not attorneys and we don't play them on TV either. This post is informational only.

Avoid Foreclosure! Call Nestor and Katerina Gasset for Short Sale Information Today- 561-753-0135 or learn more at Short-Sales-Florida.com.



To view Florida Short Sales- Click here. We know Palm Beach County Short Sales and Port St Lucie Florida Short Sales and will help you get your home Sold if you need to Sell your home and help you buy your home in Palm Beach County Florida: Call us today.





Copyright © 2010 By Katerina Gasset, All Rights Reserved.*CitiMortgage Rolls Out A New Program For Delinquent Homeowners- Give Us The Keys...*

What Comes Down Must Go Up: Fed Raises Discount Rate By 50%

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 07:07:24 -0600

If you are considering buying a home now is the time to make your move.

Via Mike Jones (SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC):

DON'T WAIT. CALL YOUR REALTOR NOW!

It had to happen. The New York Times news alert headline says Federal Reserve Raises Interest Rate Charged to Banks, In First Move Since 2008.

Is it a big deal? That remains to be seen. If you locked your loan yesterday, be happy. The rate you got isn't available today.

An Example From History
(You can't call it a lesson unless something has been learned...)

To put things in perspective, when Jimmy Carter defeated Gerald Ford in 1976, the discount rate stood at 5.25%. Two years prior, under Nixon, it had been higher, at 8%. Commodity prices were through the roof. (Google "oil prices 1973.") Inflation had taken hold, and the Federal Reserve decided that enough was enough.

The Fed started raising the Discount Rate to combat inflation.

In four short years, the discount rate rose from 5.25% to a staggering 13.00%. Remember that the discount rate is the rate banks pay to borrow the money they lend to you. You pay more.

What did that mean to consumers? I was a homebuilder in the 1980's. My buyers back then had first mortgages as high as 17%. (And we still sold new homes at the Jersey Shore.) Second mortgages were available at 21.5%.

Parallel to today...

Nixon was winding down the Vietnam war, and bringing home the troops. The NY Times headline on March 29th (the day the last of the US forces were out of Vietnam) was Nixon Sets Meat Price Ceilings at Both Wholesale and Retail; Asserts Costs 'Should Go Down'.

Congress was trying to force an outcome on the free market.

The result was inflation.
Rates had to go up to kill the monster, and economic results of the next decade were a template for for our current dilemma.

Moral of the story?

If you intend to finance the purchase of a home, better do it now! I recommend a 30 year fixed rate.

p.s. If you intend to qualify for the $8,000 first time homebuyer tax credit or the $6,500 credit, you must be in escrow by April 30.

Call your REALTOR now.

___________________

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson Mortgage Lender.

NMLS #223495

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE llc ~ Mortgage Bankers, Not Brokers!
Offices in Scottsdale, Tucson, and Nogales, AZ, and Albuquerque, NM.

Call me on my Blackberry (520) 349-9090

photo courtesy Kevin Chauvin, Flickr