Buying a home is one of the few occasions in which some form of negotiation is the rule rather than the exception. Just because it is the norm, however, does not mean that most people are good at it. Here are a few tips to help you negotiate the best deal when buying your next Lakewood Ranch home: 1. Know your bottom line. Determine your bottom line and stick to it. This sometimes means you have to be willing to walk away from a deal. It also means being realistic about what you're asking from the seller. Many sellers are faced with the fact that their home may not be worth what they paid for it. This puts limits on the concessions a seller can offer. 2. Stay flexible. For example, what if the Lakewood Ranch home you'd like to buy needs a new heating system. The seller is unwilling to r... 06/21/2011

If you're short on time, here's a list that will take you one minute to read and will give you 9 tips to help get your Lakewood Ranch home sold faster: 1. Set the right price. A Lakewood Ranch home  priced correctly from the start will sell faster. 2. Provide a thorough disclosure statement.  3. Add a one-year home warranty. They're reasonably priced and provide peace of mind for the buyer. 4. Offer financial incentives. There are a variety of financial incentives you can offer depending on the needs of the home and the buyer. Here are a few to consider: a. Cost to replace the carpet b. Cost to paint the home 5. Make your home shine. Fix it. Paint it. Clean it. Polish it. If there's anything you've put off, do it now. Your home has to be at its very best. 6. Get a pro's opinion. Ask you... 06/19/2011

The Internet has made researching real estate easy for anyone who knows how to surf online. Whether researching real estate to sell homes or to find a property for their next big investment, many property owners and home buyers think they'll save a lot of money by doing all the work themselves.   However, statistics show that you're more likely to sell your property quicker or find your dream house faster when you work with a professional Realtor® or real estate agent. Working with a Realtor provides you with an expanded housing database, years of property-purchasing knowledge and valuable contacts for everything from inspections to loans. The trick is to find the right Lakewood Ranch real estate agent or Realtor to fit your needs. Here are 5 tips to help you find your perfect fit: Know... 06/17/2011

Sarasota Short Sale Agent - Venice Stop Foreclosure - Bradenton Short Sale Help – FREE information on Foreclosure Defense, Mortgage Modification, Tax Consequences, Deed-in-lieu-of-foreclosure, Short Sales, Deficiency Judgments, Bankruptcy Referrals & more. John Michailidis, SaraMana Properties – Phone: (941) 822-5221 CLICK to Request Our FREE 48-page Foreclosure Options eBook   Is a Short Sale Necessary To Stop Foreclosure In Lakewood Ranch Florida - Lakewood Ranch Short Sale Help Many Lakewood Ranch property owners who are behind on their mortgage payments are turning to Short Sales, not because they want to, but because it is the best, least damaging Foreclosure Alternative in almost all cases. If you're a Lakewood Ranch area homeowner facing Foreclosure you owe it to yourself to watc... 06/16/2011

While some people are hesitant to buy into a real estate market that seems to still be bottoming out, many studies have shown that owning a house is an investment in your future and that of your community. From tax breaks to property taxes, being a Lakewood Ranch home owner can put money in the bank. It also gives you a sense of pride in contributing to community institutions such as the police force, local government offices, fire stations and free medical services.   Did you know that statistically you and your neighbors are more likely to properly maintain and update your Lakewood Ranch homes when you own them rather than rent them? Maintaining and updating your home boosts the real estate market around you, giving you the chance to increase the value of your property, your neighbors... 06/14/2011

The charts below are for the Lakewood Ranch real estate market. Do you think this market has bottom? Here is the chart of homes for sale, pending and sold for the the last 5 years. In October of 2006 there were 1,773 homes for sale in the Lakewood Ranch area. In April of 2011 there are 270 homes for sale. Quite a difference eh?   Absorption Rates Here are the absorption rates % for the 5 years of Lakewood Ranch homes. In April of 2006 the absorption rate was 2.6%. In April of 2011 the absorption rate is 18.5%. Months of Inventory   The above chart are months of inventory based on closed sales. In April of 2006 Lakewood Ranch had 39 months of inventory. In April of 2011 there is a 5.4 month supply of homes for sale.   Has this market bottomed? 06/09/2011

As a homeowner, one of the biggest traps you can fall into is over improving your Lakewood Ranch home. Turn on any home improvement channel, and they will show you all the latest and greatest in must haves for your Lakewood Ranch home. What they don't tell you is that even the best upgrades won't guarantee an increase in your resale value. In fact, most remodel jobs only recoup 60% to 70% of their costs. Here are some tips to help you avoid over improving your home: Assess the value of homes in your neighborhood. Unless you plan on staying in your Lakewood Ranch home forever, do some research on the home values in your neighborhood before you begin any home renovations. Ideally, you want to add improvements that increase the resale value of your home while staying within the average mar... 06/08/2011

Sarasota Short Sale Agent - Venice Stop Foreclosure - Bradenton Short Sale Help – FREE information on Foreclosure Defense, Mortgage Modification, Tax Consequences, Deed-in-lieu-of-foreclosure, Short Sales, Deficiency Judgments, Bankruptcy Referrals & more. John Michailidis, SaraMana Properties – Phone: (941) 822-5221 CLICK to Request Our FREE 48-page Foreclosure Options eBook   Looking For An Experienced Short Sale Agent To Stop Foreclosure In Lakewood Ranch Florida? Short Selling your home before a Foreclosure is the single most important thing you can do to mitigate the damage to your credit and avoid a potentially HUGE Deficiency Judgment (a D.J. is the difference between what you owe and what the property sells for -- getting this waived is an important part of the Short Sale Proces... 06/03/2011

As a society, it seems as if we no longer appreciate our homes for their emotional and sentimental worth. Instead, we focus solely on their monetary value. An appraiser can estimate a Lakewood Ranch home's  monetary value, but to gain a true concept of your home's worth, you must also take into consideration: 1. Pride of ownership. You don't buy a pair of Prada shoes because you're going to be able to resell them and make a profit. You buy them because they make you look good and feel good. 2. Security and stability. Your home provides a roof over your head that's in your control. You can decorate it the way you want. You don't have to worry about a landlord selling the property or asking you to move out. In the "olden days" (or should I say "golden days"), we called our homes our castl... 06/02/2011

For some frustrated sellers, the answer to "Why isn't my home selling?" is "It's the agent's fault!" If your immediate instinct is to drop your Lakewood Ranch real estate agent for a new one, you might want to take a deep breath and consider the following: 1. Do you think agents are like lottery tickets? Going through Lakewood Ranch real estate agents as fast as scratch-off lottery tickets isn't going to get your home sold faster. In fact, it usually slows down the process. 2. Is your home priced correctly? That's probably the number one difference between homes that sell fast and homes that sit on the market. A poorly priced home could be your agent's fault. Then again, you could be partially to blame. Did you insist on a specific price even though your agent strongly recommended a low... 06/01/2011

There are a few misconceptions about how to set the sales price for your Lakewood Ranch real estate. Here are five common pricing myths and the reality behind them. Myth #1: It's OK to test a high price on your Lakewood Ranch real estate just to see if anyone will buy it at that price. Truth: If you're serious about selling your home, don't play games. In this buyer's market you have a very small window of opportunity to pull in serious buyers when your home first enters the market. If you play games, like over pricing your home just to test the market, buyers will stay away in droves. Myth #2: You should price your Lakewood Ranch real estate higher than the market value to allow for room to negotiate. Truth: No matter what your reasoning or rationale, overpricing your home is never a g... 05/27/2011

Here are a few tips to help your Lakewood Ranch home for sale show better and sell faster: 1. Get rid of the excess: Eliminate as much as possible, and then do it again. Remember when staging your Lakewood Ranch home for sale, less is best. Swap out personal photos for framed art. The main idea is to remove as much as possible and replace personal items with neutral objects so that people can imagine their things in the home.   2. Repair and paint: Before painting, fix all those minor dings that don't really bother you. Buyers notice everything. A missing piece of baseboard, an outlet that doesn't work, or a closet door that won't stay on track all seem minor, but they can have a huge affect on how a buyer views your home. The next step is to apply a fresh coat of paint in a neutral col... 05/25/2011

On first thought, selling your home by yourself seems to make perfect sense. It doesn't look all that hard, right? So you decide to sell your home the FSBO way (For Sale By Owner). You figure that you can put up a sign. Let people come to look at your house. Review all the offers you are sure to get and pick the best one and you're done. That's all there is to understanding the Lakewood Ranch real estate market-right? Well, not quite. One of the most difficult things for a person to do in trying to sell their own home is to understand the real estate market in order to price their home correctly. All of the above steps will not result in a sale without setting a price that will make you happy and get a buyer to sign on the dotted line. The Price is Right In some ways selling your home a... 05/17/2011

Everyone wants to save a buck and some think they can save a lot of money by selling their homes by themselves. But would you really save money by doing it yourself? To start off with it should be said that there are indeed people who can sell their homes for sale by owner (FSBO), and even save a few dollars doing it. Those are the people who have five important skills: 1. They know how to market and advertise their Lakewood Ranch real estate both online and offline without spending a fortune. 2. They are excellent sales people. 3. They know how to pre-qualify buyers to be sure they're actually able to afford the home. 4. They're great at negotiating. 5. They know how to execute real estate contracts and all the other associated legal work necessary to sell a home. Additionally, they ne... 05/15/2011

Sarasota Short Sale Help - Stop Foreclosure On Siesta Key - Bradenton Short Sale Agent - FREE information on Foreclosure Defense, Mortgage Modification, Tax Consequences, Deed-in-lieu-of-foreclosure, Short Sales, Deficiency Judgments, Bankruptcy Referrals & more. John Michailidis, SaraMana Properties – Phone: (941) 822-5221   What Is A "BoA Short Sale" - Lakewood Ranch, Siesta Key, Sarasota, Bradenton, FL Short Sale Agent Help Like many professionals in various industries, we in the real estate business tend to use jargon that those who aren't a part of our community can't quite figure out. Someone emailed me the other day asking me what a "Boa Short Sale" was? They wanted to know if it had to do with a loan that strangled borrowers until they died -- like a boa-constrictor! Ha! While m... 05/13/2011

There are a few misconceptions about how to set the sales price for your Lakewood Ranch real estate. Here are five common pricing myths and the reality behind them. Myth #1: It's OK to test a high price on your Lakewood Ranch real estate just to see if anyone will buy it at that price. Truth: If you're serious about selling your home, don't play games. In this buyer's market you have a very small window of opportunity to pull in serious buyers when your home first enters the market. If you play games, like over pricing your home just to test the market, buyers will stay away in droves. Myth #2: You should price your Lakewood Ranch real estate higher than the market value to allow for room to negotiate. Truth: No matter what your reasoning or rationale, overpricing your home is never a g... 05/12/2011

Choosing a professional real estate agent can be a very imposing task. This person is responsible for finding your new home or selling your home, guiding you through the home inspection process and negotiating a good price and terms. These are important tasks that should be taken seriously. That's why finding a skilled real estate agent is key to a successful real estate transaction. Here are several tips for interviewing Lakewood Ranch real estate agents: · Interview at least three agents. Even if you love the first or second agent you interview, promise yourself you'll interview all three. You learn more from each interview, and you never know when that third agent is going to be the perfect match for you. · Ask all three agents the same questions so you can compare their answers and ... 05/10/2011

Lakewood Ranch Foreclosure Agent - Lakewood Ranch Foreclosure Help - Stop Foreclosure In Lakewood Ranch Florida - FREE information on Foreclosure Defense, Mortgage Modification, Tax Consequences, Deed-in-lieu-of-foreclosure, Short Sales, Deficiency Judgments, Bankruptcy Referrals & more. John Michailidis, SaraMana Properties – Phone: (941) 822-5221   Lakewood Ranch Foreclosure Help -- Stop Foreclosure In Lakewood Ranch Florida It is what it is. It is happening to millions, so there's nothing to be embarrassed about. You can Stop Foreclosure, but you have to be willing to take a few simple steps. While the process is rarely quick, it's surprisingly simple, and works virtually 100% of the time . . . but only if handled by a Team that has intimate knowledge of and experience with the proc... 05/04/2011

Do you have a small room in your Lakewood Ranch home that'd you'd like to make larger, but you don't have the money in your budget to tear down a wall or add on to the room? By using a bit of creativity, you can make that tiny room look larger without breaking the bank.Here are 8 low-cost decorating tips to make any room in your Lakewood Ranch home look bigger: 1. Leave open space. Place taller pieces of furniture along a wall rather than out in the open space. To prevent blocking the view into a room, use shorter pieces of furniture like an ottoman or a low table. The more open space you can see, the larger the room will look. 2. Brighten the room. A well-lit room looks larger, whether it's brightened with natural or artificial light. Remove heavy, dark draperies to let the natural lig... 05/01/2011

Lakewood Ranch Short Sale Help - Lakewood Ranch Short Sale Agent. Why Short Sale? – FREE information on Foreclosure Defense, Mortgage Modification, Tax Consequences, Deed-in-lieu-of-foreclosure, Short Sales, Deficiency Judgments, Bankruptcy Referrals & more. John Michailidis, SaraMana Properties – Phone: (941) 822-5221   Lakewood Ranch Short Sale Help - Why Not Every Agent Deserves Your Time Or Your Business General real estate sales are one thing, but Short Sales are a complicated and sophisticated type of transaction that requires a skill-set that far exceeds that of the typical real estate practitioner. Nothing in the real estate licensing classes prepares one to professionally handle Short Sales. Even a high level of experience with conventional sales does not prepare one to "succe... 04/30/2011