Bonita Springs Florida Central

Well, I read my email tonight and look what I found:

Google Blogs Alert for: bonita springs florida

Wenatchee, Washington: Real Estate Is Still A Great Investment!
By Carol Williams (TopPropertiesRealEstate.com)(Carol Williams (TopPropertiesRealEstate.com))
On a challenge from Chris Griffith from Bonita Springs, Florida here's my post on why it is a good time to buy real estate in Wenatchee, Washington. What are the primary reasons for buying real estate in this central Washington location ...
Carol Williams' Wenatchee Real... - http://activerain.com/blogs/carolwilliams 

:: Cough Cough ::   Spread the Good News Plague 

Way to go Carol, the post was great.

Are REALTORS^® obsolete?  With the wave of the internet the rumors start floating everywhere.  Will the REALTOR^® go the way of the T-Rex?  Is extinction just around the corner?  

Buyers and sellers of real estate have access to nearly limitless information about homes, prices, sales prices, tax roll data bases and online comparative market analysis sites. (Z - I don't mention the whole name out of principal.)  Why do they need a real estate professional?   Is the day dawning when they, the buyers and sellers of real estate, write their own contracts?  Schedule their own home inspections and coordinate showings?

My opinion would be no.  Listen, anyone can buy or sell real estate on their own, but do they want to?  There is always a need for a professional that knows the city or neighborhood "like the back of their hand".  Any savvy investor doesn't start making snap decisions by themselves without consulting an expert, whether it's pork bellies, gold or Bonita Springs real estate. 

Let us not forget our sarcastic, satirical friends, Death  and Divorce.

A few reasons why REALTORS^® are priceless are:

• In seasonal areas who will sell the homes of absentee owners?  I know Sharon Simms goes the extra mile with absentee owners.
• Like it or not, REALTORS^® are almost divorce mediators when the marital home is on the block.
• The Grim Reaper is right around the corner, step off a curb too soon and you'll be looking at the brown side of the grass.  I don't think you can write a contract from there, or make sure the home is probated or titled correctly to sell and CLOSE. 
• Americans live a life of excess and work extended hours.  When would a buyer find the time to properly research their investment in real estate, school district, driving route to their job and close proximity to their favorite convenience.
• Let's not even get into appraisals gone awry, unqualified buyers, lenders that under perform or buyers that "just walk away" from the deal.  To many of us have earned our "medals" resuscitating a deal from any number of these painfully slow, dramatic deaths.
• 3:00 a.m. Eastern time fax from Belgium to meet a deadline; at office in slippers and PJ's.
• Sometimes you just need someone to ask where to get the best pizza in town.

REALTORS^®, take heed.  Your jobs are safe.  The job of the Journalist, however, may be in danger.  With the onset of the Blog-Wars, it looks like anyone who is anybody will be writing stories to get better rankings.  Looks like the Journalists should be watching their backs! 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth. 

We are so lucky to wake up to this sight this morning.  It's been years since I've seen snow (I've been in Bonita Springs Florida for 23 years) and this is the first time I've seen it in Sedona.  I've seen the pictures, just not the real thing.  I SO have to move here.  Any Arizona REALTORS out there that can give me the low down on getting a license here?

I stumbled upon this site:  http://www.makeaconnectionhere.com/  It is a faith based networking site.  Simply fill out a profile and when it takes you to the pay pal page click "cancel" and it will bypass the payment section for a limited time.  You will then be able to log in and modify your profile, etc.  My sponsor code is 68.  I don't know what sponsoring a person does .... or if it earns points or prayers.

It's a free link to you, regardless.  Happy New Year! 

Mark Twain

After just reading IF YOU'RE A BUYER AND OUT OF THIS MARKET, YOU'LL HATE YOURSELF LATER I came across this article about SW Florida real estate. 

Our area is somewhat seasonal.  Blue skys and sunshine in February...you can't beat it with a stick.  Most residents have watch the real estate bonanza and prices of homes and land sky rocket.  Well, it's never been a better time to buy.  Enjoy this story from the Fort Myers News Press.

____________________________________________________

Locals buy homes while they can
Lower prices make home ownership possible

Schoolteacher Jennifer Watenpool, 25, bought a house recently. She's overjoyed to have a chance at home ownership.

"I came from Michigan to teach down here and was actually in the process of thinking about moving back because I couldn't afford to buy a house," she said. "For me to be able to stay here is wonderful. I did not want to leave."  Read More Here

MOVIES IN THE PARK!

The B.E.A.R. (Bonita Springs Estero Association of Realtors) Community Relations Committee will help in combination with the Bonita Springs Chamber of Commerce and the City of Bonita Springs to hold the first ever "Movies in the Park" at Riverside Park on Old 41 Rd.!  This is a project that has been a year in the making and it's finally arrived.  This wonderful monthly event will not only promote the relationship between B.E.A.R., Chamber, and the City but it will also, promote our good will to the local community. 

The movies will be free to everyone and Russell's Clam Bakes will provide food and beverages for people to purchase (half of the proceeds will benefit Bonita Assistance).  The movies will run once a month in January, February, & March, the show times and dates are as follows:

•          January 6^th, 2007     Wizard of Oz         6pm - Dusk
•          February 3^rd, 2007    ET                         6pm - Dusk
•          March 3^rd, 2007         Lord of the Rings 6pm - Dusk

This is going to be a great opportunity for everyone to enjoy the newly renovated Riverside Park and to enjoy a nice movie in the park with your family and friends.  Mark your calendars!

Riverside Park Fountain:

The New Bandshell:     Historic Cottages:

Happy New Year!    

New Year's Eve Events Around Southwest Florida.

Unsure of what to do or where to go to ring in 2007? Check out New Year's Eve events throughout Southwest Florida and their wide offering to fit every budget.  Get the whole schedule HERE.  Ring in the new year in style! 

For the homebodies, this is a schedule of Dick Clarks New Years Rockin' Eve.  Yes, he's still the New Years staple, joined now by Ryan Seacrest.

Have a safe one!

An interesting challenge to any realtor reading this blog is to go to http://www.realtor.com/ and search for their "dream home" in their "dream city" and within their "price point" and try to be a buyer.  The second part of the exercise is to read, see and feel the advertising of other agents.  It will make you a better listing agent and help find buyers for the homes of your clients(s) if you implement better tactics to sell your own listings.

It should go without saying that you should take a look at your own listings, both in the MLS and in Realtor.com.  Is the information you are trying to convey getting across to the buyer?  So many times a listing agent is involved in getting the job done and going through the motions that they may not be adding vital information that would draw a buyer in.  As internet savvy REALTORS we strive to make our websites and blogs "Sticky".  Why aren't we trying harder to make our listings "Sticky".  There are many agents that "drop the ball".  They figure they got the information "up there", but is it the right information?

Tips For Listing Details:

• Photos, good photos, not just any photos.  Get out of the car, too.  The picture of your car door and mirror isn't working for anyone.  Don't date stamp the photos.
• Visual Tour.  If you can't make your own, get a reliable source to do it for you.
• Floor plans and development site plans.  Let the buyer see the floor plan and see where the building or home lies in relation to the rest of the community.
• Details, Details, Details.  You can never add too many details.  About the home, about the city, about the attractions and conveniences nearby for the new owner to enjoy.  How far is the college, beach or sports arena? 
• How about a change?  If that listing has been on the market for 60-90 days update it with new photos and a fresh description.
• Different sites and adds; different photos.  Using different photos for each advertising application makes it appear the buyer is getting "more" information.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your competitions idea of a marketing photo campaign.  Most of these photos are the lead MLS photos (the best shot they had).  I'd also like to take a moment to invite any seller to ask for copies of their add photos to make sure they aren't suffering the fate of the sellers homes below.  Most of the listing below are active listings in the Bonita Springs, Florida market.

Welcome to my Photo Hall of Shame:

This is an active listing in Fort Myers Florida, right now, December 29, 2006. I guess the trash can lid is a bonus to the "date stamp" in the corner.  Uh, 2003?

Would it have really been THAT hard to have the pick up truck moved?

Looks like we get a panel truck and an open garage door as a bonus here.  The only other photo provided with this one is a satellite photo from the tax roll and the PANEL TRUCK is in it!

How about we wait until the sun comes out?  This looks like a cheerful place to live.

Is the MAILBOX for sale?  Is this an add photo for herbicide? Pick up truck issue bonus.  Badexposure bonus.

Ok, it's on Oregon Street in Bonita Springs.  If it didn't read "single family home" I'd think the tree is for sale:

Multiple car bonus, plus date stamp:

Two for one!  Two exterior photos of the same house?  Which house is the one that is for sale?  I think it's the blue one, the photo was actually installed multiple times.  Minivan Bonus!

Totem Pole Bonus, I actually like this one:

Another cheerful place to live, car bonus:

I wonder why they didn't go with the black interior?  It is Florida, it would bet too hot, right?

Maybe we could have just peeked over that railing for this lovely photo:

Utility Box Bonus:

Parking lot dispos-a-car bonus:

Lake View + tree bonus:

Was this agent sitting on the floor?

Dead yard, roof failing bonus:

They covered the car so you wouldn't see that it was on blocks:

Now go out there and kick it up a notch!  Look through that camera with a new perspective....please. 

Oh, the suffering...                               

Every real estate agent has tried to figure it out, upon occasion.  If you are an agent you wait for the buyer to tell you what they want, or what they THINK they want.  Probing questions, matter of fact inquires or anything that could be a lever to a morsel of information.  It is up to you, the agent, to unearth the REAL want and need of your buyer.  Perhaps the confusion is a result of  the Buyer not being able to open up or perhaps it is because the buyer does not know how to properly articulate what they are looking for.

We have all been out with the buyer that buys on impulse, intellect or the "unknown". 

Reading a buyer is a skill that takes experience to master or for a lucky few, just a gift.  Every buyer is different and complex.

A few great reminders or question for the buyer's agent is:

• Who is the decision maker?  Is it the Mr., The Mrs., or a "Third Party"?
• Why are they buying the real estate?
• How soon do they want to move in?
• Will a buyer buy with need, emotion or a spreadsheet?
• Is the buyer secretly afraid [for example] of water and anything "lakefront" and the waterfront homes are a waste of time?
• Does this home remind Mr. Buyer of the home he grew up in where it may be a win/loose situation.
• Do they HAVE to sell to move; or is it a 1031 exchange?
• Hmmm, Did a family member show up with them and give a negative input? (Don't you just love when the third party shows up?)
• Will their purchase be to show off to their friends?  Country club, ocean front.

Surely, we have all been out with the buyer party when we had the "lightening bolt" of WHY they have been looking or what they REALLY want.  Maybe the wife loves the kitchen or maybe it just has a great fenced yard for the kids and dog out back.

Maureen Francis shared her Fish Tank Toilet with us and it got me thinking about some of the unusual and bizaare items I've come across while showing property. 

I seem to have found a relatively gross item I keep running across in homes.  Taxidermied cats. 

As in household pet, here kitty kitty, type cats.  I don't get it.  It's creepy.  I was showing a condominium in an exclusive community and the showing instructions were "don't let the cat out".  I warned my buyers on the way in not to let the cat out.  About ten minutes later Mrs. Buyer is about to pet the "cat" curled up on the sofa.  Guess what.....yeah, stuffed and mounted, dead for years.  I grabbed her hand and said, "Don't touch it, it's not the cat you're looking for."  She about passed out.  I think I've seen three or four of the stuffed cats since.  When the agent called for showing feedback I suggested they put the dead cat in a drawer or something.

I don't have a cat.  I have a dog.  I love my dog.  I love him so much I am going to bury him when he dies.  I'm not going to have him stuffed and staring at me 24/7.

As "luck" would have it, last week I was on the treadmill at the gym and the man beside me was a taxidermist.  I had to ask about the cats.  He has done a few and said he just got his worse order ever.  The owner of the recently deceased cat wanted it made into a little area rug, like a bear skin rug...with a head propped up and it's teeth showing in a snarl and it's little body as the rug.  I was speachless.  And guess what?  It's probably coming to a listing near me!

I'd love to hear the war stories, if you have them.  Photos are welcome too.