How I Make A Difference

Gotta toot my own horn sometimes.... I'm featured in an article on Realtor.com for my green business practices! A few months ago, Sandy Keith and I were interview by a liaison of the National Association of Realtors and the US Deparment of Energy. Super cool, right? Below is the excerpt about me and here's a link to the entire article: http://www.realtor.org/rmosales_and_marketing/articles/2009/0911_sales_greenpractitioners. Special thanks to Julie Hawkins. What a pleasure to work with you.

It's the Little Things

Christina Pitchford of Allen Real Estate Services in Sarasota, Fla., has always made resource conservation part of her business. Pitchford has a Green certification from Green Real Estate Education and makes use of technology to be more green. She does a majority of her transactions over e-mail with PDF files rather than multiple faxes. She prefers linking to disclosures and other documents rather than printing them on paper. Pitchford also cuts down on driving by working with clients over the Internet to screen out listings that don't make the cut.

"My key to success is staying true to myself," says Pitchford. "The environment has always been a concern to me, so I started articulating green features to my clients. I always ask them what green features they're interested in."

It pays off. Pitchford gets most of her referrals from green-minded clients.

"What I hear most from referrals with environmental values is that they can trust me and that I understand what they are looking for," she says. "I won't hesitate to walk into million-dollar homes that are lit up like Christmas trees and turn off all the lights. I do it so my clients can then see how well the home is lit by the sun during the day. Little things like that can make a big difference on an energy bill, especially in a large home."

Pitchford works to educate her fellow practitioners as well. She and Sandra Keith of Lighthouse Realty, also in Sarasota, are founding members of the Green REALTORS® Alliance of Sarasota, which has held two annual Green Home Expos. The expos introduced green vendors to the public and to real estate professionals. Through these events, GRAS has convinced Sarasota County's Green Business Partners to become affiliate members of the Sarasota Board of REALTORS® and to educate and network extensively within the community.

Signs of a Firm Bottom?

Everyone wants to know when we'll hit the bottom and everyone has opinions. I've made my point about speculation before and won't go there again. Personally, I'm a fan of facts over emotions and I've been waiting for enough facts to pile up. Here are a few:

1. Realtors are super busy these days although "season" typically ends with Easter. I have 3 closings this month (first-time homebuyer, investor and relocation)! Last month was good, next month looks even better so far.... Last weekend was, in fact, the first weekend I DIDN'T show property since February.
2. Last months sales statistics from the Sarasota Association of Realtors showed an increase in closed deals and even an increase in the median sales price. Pending transactions have been up so many months now I can't remember when they started rising. For more details, charts and exact figures, click here: http://www.sarasotarealtors.com/about/hottopic.cfm?eveID=110.
3. The number of properties for sale on our MLX has decreased all year. Good job to the Realtors! Congrats to the new homeowners and investors have bought some great deals.
4. More and more folks are receiving actual help to refinance and stay in their homes now with the help of that the government's Making Home Affordable program. Click here for the official website: http://makinghomeaffordable.gov/. Don't get me wrong: more folks need help and the help needs to be less frustrating and cumbersome. Contact me if you'd like to see if you qualify as I can refer you to some amazing mortgage brokers and negotiators.
5. And then... foreclosure filings have dropped for the Sarasota/Manatee area! Read the Sarasota Herald Tribune article here: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090611/ARTICLE/906111057/2055/NEWS?Title=Regional-foreclosures-buck-a-state-trend-. Filings were still up for the rest of the state.
6. You can buy for less than what it costs to rent!

In summary, who knows? The commercial market is still all out-of-whack and that will have a big impact on the residential market. However, I think it's only fair to proclaim once again that Sarasota rocks!

Great First-Time Homebuyer News!

Governor signs $8K homebuyer credit into law

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – May 27, 2009 – Gov. Charlie Crist signed the budget bill (SB 2600) today that lays out how the state will spend its $65.6 billion in the fiscal year that starts July 1. Included is $30.1 million for the Florida Homebuyer Opportunity Program, which will help with downpayment assistance.

Beginning July 1, those who quality for the federal $8,000 first-time homebuyers tax credit will be able to apply for downpayment assistance before they close on the purchase of their home, and then repay the amount borrowed when they get their tax refund. The program will operate through local county housing administrators, though details are still being worked out.

The state spending plan passed today also includes the following for real estate-related programs:

• Up to $400,000 to prevent, combat and publicize the dangers of unlicensed real estate activity in Florida.
• $540,000 to continue and complete a study to make recommendations on passive strategies on nitrogen reduction that complement the use of onsite wastewater treatment systems.
• $3 million in the Real Estate Trust Fund for the Education and Research Foundation.
• A reduction in the eviction filing fees from $265 to $180 – the only fee reduction in the 2009-10 budget, and one with a negative fiscal impact of up to $36 million.

© FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

Please Make The Industry Joke No Longer A Reality

Leave it to the National Association of Realtors to initiate a much needed change to the short sale process!

As anybody who has dealt with one knows, short sales should be renamed "long sales." But that could be changing. The chair of NAR's Conventional Finance and Lending Committee already has met with 10 mortgage bankers and servicers in Florida to address the problem.

Read the full story: http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n2-051109.cfm

BREAKING NEWS: Advanced Credit For First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit!!!

The Florida Association of Realtors rocks! Thanks for looking out for my clients' best interest!!!

2009 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - May 8, 2009 - Having approved a $66.5 billion state budget, the 2009 Florida Legislature adjourned minutes ago. For the Florida real estate industry, the budget includes several gems. Perhaps the shiniest: $30.1 million for downpayment assistance programs.

Beginning July 1, those who qualify for the federal first-time homebuyers tax credit will be able to apply for downpayment assistance in advance of closing, and then repay the amount borrowed when they get their tax refund.

"What an incredible opportunity for thousands of families," says Cynthia Shelton, 2009 FAR president. "The beauty of this program is that the state will be paid back and, conceivably, more potential homebuyers could take advantage prior to the Dec. 1 expiration of the $8,000 federal first time homebuyer tax credit."

The program will operate through local county housing administrators, though details are still being worked out. Keep reading FAR's EarlyBird e-news and checking the home page of floridarealtors.org for updates.

The state spending plan passed today also includes the following for real estate-related programs:

• Up to $400,000 to prevent, combat and publicize the dangers of unlicensed real estate activity in Florida.
• $540,000 to continue and complete a study to make recommendations on passive strategies on nitrogen reduction that complement the use of onsite wastewater treatment systems.
• $3 million in the Real Estate Trust Fund for the Education and Research Foundation.
• A reduction in the eviction filing fees from $265 to $180 - the only fee reduction in the 2009-10 budget and one with a negative fiscal impact of up to $36 million. Even though the session was extended to today for the purpose of budget negotiations, all non-budget legislation was finalized last Friday. Here are the highlights reported previously:
• SJR 532, a constitutional amendment that will ask voters to limit increases in property tax assessments on all non-homestead properties to 5 percent annually. First-time homebuyers could benefit, too, with an additional homestead exemption up to $100,000.
• HB 521, a bill that puts the burden of proving that a property tax assessment is correct on the appraiser, not the property owner.
• In the area of property insurance, the Legislature capped rate increases at 10 percent per year for Citizens policyholders (HB 1495). The Legislature also repealed the requirement that, effective Jan. 1, 2010, sellers of property located in a wind-borne debris region, and which has an insured value on the structure of $500,000 or more, provide prospective buyers the structure's windstorm mitigation rating.
• The growth management bill (SB 360) FAR supported passed as a big package. It includes a provision to encourage urban infill by eliminating transportation concurrency, one that allows for expedited comprehensive plan reviews, and another that eliminates the development of regional impact process (DRIs) in urban areas. The bill also extends previously obtained permits and approvals by two years, creates a transition process for moving towards a mobility fee system, and streamlines and reduces inefficiency in the state's approach to growth management.

For additional updates, please visit FAR's legislative Web site: http://www.floridarealtorslegislative.org
© 2009 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

Florida Leads The Way To Recovery?

Florida deserves a round of applause and Sarasota too since we've been leading all other counties in the state with home sales:

Housing Predictor - which monitors over 250 residential property markets nationwide - says Florida appears to be emerging from the realty slump before any other state, including California.

The Sunshine State is seeing population growth, and single-family home and condominium sales have been on the rise for more than six months. Foreclosures and short sales presently account for approximately 67 percent of all sales and often are not included in real estate agents' tallies. Additionally, banks in many Florida housing markets are cranking out more home loans, and sellers finance almost 20 percent of all sales.

Source: First
EmailWire.com (04/21/09)

© Copyright 2009 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688

Mortgage Fraud Alert!

Florida unveils Web site to fight mortgage fraud-related scams

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – April 16, 2009 – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum unveiled a new Web site to help homeowners avoid mortgage fraud scams. The Web site – http://myfloridalegal.com/mortgagefraud – gives consumers easy access to current investigations, complaint forms, and tips to identify and avoid foreclosure rescue fraud. Fraud involving loan modifications related to foreclosures is the complaint topic most commonly reported to the Attorney General’s Office. The complaints many times relate to an up-front fee.

“Companies and individuals are taking advantage of our homeowners in these tough economic times by preying on their financial situations,” says McCollum. “If we can increase consumer education and empower people to spot scams and avoid them in advance, we can help decrease the number of victims targeted by this fraud.”

Consumers can obtain information about active litigation and download affidavit forms to fill out if they have been victimized by one of the listed companies. Consumers can also access a list of active investigations to see if a company is questionable. The Web site also features frequently asked questions, consumer tips and a list of warning signs if a company is engaging in foreclosure rescue fraud.

The Web site includes links to the new Florida Bar Web site with information for attorneys and consumers, housing help workshops and clinics in Florida, and information about the Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service and qualified legal aid agencies.

© 2009 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Bonus On A Bonus?

Just read the following and am excited to read more updates:

If a FAR-backed coalition that includes the Florida Home Builders Association, Florida Bankers Association and the Florida Credit Union League succeeds, state lawmakers will find a way to advance a new $8,000 federal tax credit to first-time homebuyers so they can use it to make downpayments.

Read the full story:
http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-033109.cfm

How Does This Make You Feel?

Environmental psychologist Toby Israel, author of a new book, "Some Place Like Home: Using Design Psychology to Create Ideal Place," says people's childhood homes have a profound effect on what kinds of homes they like best.

Before anyone buys, builds, rents or remodels, Israel believes they should consider what kind of living space satisfies them. One exercise she recommends for homebuyers is to draw a timeline of all the places they've lived for six months or more, circle those they liked best, then describe why.

She calls the result a "design psychology blueprint" that can help a real estate professional quickly identify what a client really wants.

Source: Star-Tribune, Jim Buchta (03/14/2009)© Copyright 2009 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688

6 Tips for Home Owners Who Turn Into Landlords

If you're thinking about it out of necessity or because you're thinking of buying a cheap investment which will pay its own bills for long-term gain, read the article below. For a copy of the landlord-tenant rules, look for the link on the right-hand side of my website. For automatic emails for foreclosures under $75,000 to consider purchasing, email or call me and I'll hook you up with some amazing deals.

Home owners who decide to rent out their properties have to stop thinking of themselves as home owners and instead consider themselves as running a small business, experts say. Thinking like a businessperson means focusing on the monthly cost of maintenance, mortgage and taxes, as well as being aware of landlord-tenant regulations and avoiding liabilities.

Here are key issues to consider:

• Set a fair rent. Setting the right price will make it more likely that a landlord will be able to keep the place rented.
• Understand landlord-tenant rules. Running afoul of landlord-tenant regulations and rules regarding security deposits can be costly.
• Screen applicants. Eliminating potential tenants who can’t pay or who won’t take care of the property is very important.
• Lay out the rules in a lease. Widely available sample leases can help. If you have questions, ask an attorney.
• Consider a property manager. Despite the expense, turning the job over to experts can help a landlord come out ahead.
• Talk to the condo association. If the property is a condominium, be prepared to deal with a host of regulations.

Source: The Washington Post, Renae Merle (02/28/2009)

Freddie Mac To Offer Month-To-Month Leases?

Freddie Mac announced it has extended its moratorium on foreclosure-related evictions to April 1. At the same time, Freddie Mac launched a program yesterday, announced in January, that allows owners facing eviction to remain in their homes as renters. The company says it started contacting at-risk homeowners yesterday about the rental program to offer them a month-to-month lease. Rent will be based on prevailing local market rates, and homes must meet local property codes. It's unclear how many homeowners would qualify, however. Freddie Mac has 8,500 properties facing foreclosure but many are already vacant. Freddie Mac's HomeSteps ( http://www.homesteps.com) real estate unit will handle the details, and foreclosed owners who opt to stay and rent must allow potential buyers to view the property.

Source: Florida Association of Realtors

Can Obama Help You?

The Obama housing plan kicked off yesterday, but officials say borrowers must be patient: lenders will probably be flooded with phone calls. Critics say not all homeowners in need will be helped, and some observers worry that banks still won't willingly work with at-risk homeowners.

Read the full story:
http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-030509.cfm