Mixed numbers and contrary reports cause us to wonder just when we'll hit the bottom in the Bradenton - Sarasota market.  Inventory decreased for the month of June and that's a good sign.  However, sale numbers and prices continue to fall.  That's a bad sign. Bottoms can only be seen in the rear view mirror, so keep looking.What signs will confirm the bottom of the market?  Mixed numbers like the one we see may suggest the bottom is yet to arrive.  The signs that follow the market bottom are: (1) Reducing inventory, (2) Increasing sales, (3) Increasing prices, (4) Fewer days on market. It's the showing activity...oh, wise one.  We have sold over 1,000 homes/condos over the years and here's what we know: If you get no showings, it means that even agents aren't excited about your price.  ... 07/09/2007

The Islands just west of Bradenton have some of the most beautiful beaches around!  The water is a beautiful shade of green, the sandy beaches line the coastline and the sun is always shinning!  Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and Longboat key make up what is known as "The Islands".  The Islands are a different world of their own.  If you haven't been there or you aren't familiar with the area, it's kind of hard to explain.  Once you cross the bridge from Bradenton onto the Islands, you just feel like you're in a different world.  Maybe it's because you see the green ocean waters instead of the hustle and bustle of the traffic on Manatee Ave or Cortez Rd.  There is a 2 lane road (Gulf Dr) that will take you from one end of the island to the other.  Up and down the coast... 07/09/2007

So, you're thinking about selling your home and wonder if your old tired kitchen and bathrooms will hinder the sale.  Here are some quick makeover suggestions.Updating the kitchen and updating the bathrooms will give you the most bang for the buck when it comes time to sell your home.  Today's buyers are looking for modern kitchens and baths.  If yours is old and outdated, it's likely that buyers will simply pass you by and keep looking.Suggestion #1 - Update the flooring. If your current floor is tired linoleum or chipped tile consider installing a laminate floor over it.  For just a few dollars a square foot you can have a new laminate floor that looks just like hardwood, tile, or stone.  It's amazing how genuine it is in appearance.  Obviously, if you have carpet in the kitchen or ba... 06/21/2007

The Village Of The Arts is located in Bradenton, close to downtown and located between 9th Ave W and 17th Ave W & between 9th St W and 14th St W.  There are about 40 shops, art studios and galleries located in this neighborhood.The Artists Guild of Manatee, Inc was formed in the summer of 1999 to create the Village of the Arts in Bradenton.  The idea for the community was to develop a neighborhood where artists of all kinds could live, work and run their businesses.  Many of the shops & galleries are open to the public during the Friday evening and Saturday afternoon ArtWalks.  The streets become filled with people browsing the shops and galleries.  It's best to bring your walking shoes, camera and pocketbook for a fun afternoon visiting the shops and galleries as well as browsing the e... 06/15/2007

Bradenton is located on the West Coast of Florida about an hour south of Tampa and is just north of Sarasota.  Bradenton offers a vast array of different types of housing.  There are condos within walking distance to the Gulf beaches, small bungalows just off the beaten path, yet are still close to the beaches, homes and condos located right on the beach, condos and homes located on the mainland that are a short drive to the beach, condos and homes that are close to downtown and everywhere else in between.  Whether you are looking for a single family home, condo, villa, duplex, handy man or fixer-upper, investment property, a second home or anything else, you are sure to find what you are looking for here.The price ranges of homes and condos also vary depending on the location and size.... 06/13/2007

Well school is out.  Are your kids driving you up the wall yet?  Are you already counting down the days until school starts again?  LOL.....Here is a list of things teens and tweens can do in Lakewood Ranch.An outdoor movie night for teens on Friday from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. It will be Greenbrook Village's Adventure Park, where the PG-13-rated "Accepted" will be shown. The event is free and open to kids 11 to 16 years old, but not their younger siblings or parents.Parents can drop off their children in the park's parking lot, and all teens must leave the park by 11 p.m. Teens should bring something to sit on, either chairs or blankets. Snacks - some free and others for sale - will be available.Lakewood Ranch Cinemas will offer a weekly teen movie night this summer. With a school ID card, ... 06/05/2007

Part of my blog is going to be about Things to Do When You VisitIn October, 2006, our daycare along with the teachers, caretakers and our children went to the Florida Railroad to visit their Pumpkin Patch and hay rides. It was a very good trip and a nice long ride. All the conductors and staff were happy to be there and dressed the part of old fashioned railway workers.  Once we arrived, we got our tickets and discovered that even though the sun was shining brightly, it was also very windy and quite cool. Some said it was down right cold. We walked through the parking lot over to the train track and waited for the train that would take us to the pumpkin patch where we would pick our pumpkins. It took about ten minutes for the train to come. When the train arrived, we heard the toot! too... 06/02/2007

The bottom of the market has hit, prices won't drop anymore.  Now is the time to buy before they start rising again.  We have seen a steady leveling out for several months. Things will start picking back up so if you are looking for that good deal, get it now.The area we now call the City of Bradenton was discovered in 1539, by Hernando DeSoto when he landed on Shaw's Point to begin his 4,000 mile trek in search of El Dorado, "the lost city of gold." Each spring we commemorate his landing with a month-long celebration called "The Florida Heritage Festival."Tropicana Products is a Bradenton-based company which is one of the world's largest producers and marketers of orange juice. Founded in 1947 by Anthony T. Rossi, an Italian immigrant, it has grown to over 8,000 employees in 2004, and ... 05/19/2007

You want to sell your home in Bradenton, Florida? - Choose the right Realtor! Teamwork!In today‘s competitive real estate market, it takes highly dedicated, qualified professionals to provide the services required to purchase or sell your home quickly and at the best price. With choosing us as your Real Estate and Financing Consultant you get an outstanding professional team that is committed to building lifelong relationships by serving you with integrity, honesty and hard work.We offer the following team competences:- Lic. Real Estate Professional, FL- Lic. Mortgage Broker, FL- Notary Public, FL- German Attorney-at-Law, LLM, J.D.- BA, BSci, M.B.A.We offer a broad range of services: - Residential Real Estate- Luxury Real Estate- Commercial Real Estate- Investment Consulting- Relocation... 05/18/2007

The Village of the Arts District is a the new jewel in the crown of downtown Bradenton, Florida. Bradenton's Downtown Development Authority sent out a call to artists interested in redeveloping a walk-to town community where artists could live, work and sell their wares.Older cottages are being bought by those with an artistic flair or for those wanting to be a part of this renaissance community. Pick up the brochure, Village of the Arts, to explore this unique community where artists live and work.Directions to Village of the Arts:From I-75 & US 301: Exit SR 64 West to Bradenton. Left at 12th Street West to end. Left and quick right into Village. From Sarasota via 41: Go north on U.S. 41, past Cortez Road, then turn right onto 13th Avenue West and then left onto 12th Street West. From ... 05/08/2007

 Bradenton liegt an der Westküste Floridas zwischen Tampa und Sarasota. Es ist die größte Stadt im Manatee County mit ca 55.000 Einwohnern. Mit dem Flugzeug ist Bradenton am besten über den Sarasota Airport (ca. 20 Minuten entfernt) oder den Tampa Airport (ca. 1 Stunde entfernt) zu erreichen. Die Stadt hat außerdem Verkehrsanbindung an den Nord-Süd verlaufenden Highway 75 und über die Sunshine Skyway Bridge, die gleichzeitig den Highway 275 darstellt, direkte Verbindung zu St. Petersburg. Bradenton liegt auf dem Festland. Diesem vorgelagert finden sich die Inseln Anna Maria Island und Longboat Key.Sie finden in Bradenton sowohl eine alte Innenstadt, historische Holzbauten, als auch viele Neubaugebiete. Der durchschnittliche Preis für ein Haus in Bradenton liegt derzeit bei ca. $300.000.... 05/02/2007

Bradenton is the largest city in Manatee County, with an estimated population of about 55,000. Bradenton is located on the West Coast of Florida, just south of Tampa Bay. The Bradenton Area is a great place to explore historical attractions, for golfing excursions, shopping and much more. Go to Myakka State Park, visit the South Florida Museum or the De Soto National Memorial to see real Florida.Regarding real estate - in Bradenton you discover a mix of old town, beach front properties and new construction. The median home price in Bradenton is about $300,000.Bradenton is served by the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. You can also fly into Tampa International airport. Bradenton is connected to St. Petersburg by the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.Bradenton is home to various businesses,... 05/02/2007

Most REALTORS cringe when they think about handling a customer who is looking for a rental in our area. It is one of those LPA's or Low Paying Activities, and most agents refuse to deal with them.  Our team however has developed a business model that is centered AROUND rental properties and it has been a huge success or us. The formula is very simple:  Most people who are moving to our area are going to rent prior to buying, giving themselves a chance to get to know the area and see if they actually like it here (Most will decide they do, what's not to like). Because of this, we are able to establish relationships with future buyers in a buyers market. The second part of the formula is future listings. 99% of our clients are investors who have purchased property, mostly new construction... 12/08/2006

It seems that blogging is the "in" thing today and fast becoming a valuable resource for business.I already have two blogs which may be of interest to you.#1 - Bradenton Florida Real Estate News at http://www.bradentonrealestate.com/news/  This blog is on my main business website http://www.bradentonrealestate.com/ .  I use it to keep my clients informed about the local market and offer tips for buyers and sellers. #2 - Bradenton Real Estate Club at http://bradentonrealestateclub.blogspot.com/ .  This blog is associated with my networking club founded to help investors, buyers, and sellers understand the Bradenton - Sarasota, Florida market and to learn how to invest in real estate. This morning I am serving as an instructor of the Code of Ethics for our Manatee Association of Realtors.... 11/15/2006