Market Report for Tallahassee, FL Real Estate Sales

Tallahassee Real Estate Sales for the year 2011 were down, however the GOOD NEWS is that September Sales were UP 8%. Personally, this was the most productive year in the past three years. Marketing efforts both of listings and my efforts to acquire Tallahassee home buyers are paying off. Our real estate sales team and concierge staff has grown to three Realtors and an assistant to help our customers experience seamless real estate transactions. Meet the Tallahassee Real Estate Sales Team. Search for Tallahassee area homes for sale. Let us know how we can help you purchase or sell your Tallahassee area home.

What do your neighborhood sales look like? Ask us for a neighborhood sales report. Looking for homes for sale in a particular Tallahassee neighborhood, Check AREA INFO neighborhoods we have identified, or structure your own neighborhood, zip code or city search in our Property Organizer. Have new listing alerts sent to you immediately!

Compiled via Tallahassee Board of Realtors MLS (Multiple Listing Service) data as of October 26, 2011.

Tallahassee Home Sales Market Report April 2010

Did you know that a Realtor is bound to continue their education according to the National Association of Realtors Code of Ethics?  Ethics training is paramount and after this comes all that goes into maintaining knowledge of every aspect of an industry that changes more than just about any other industry. Changes in market conditions, real estate law, financing and underwriting, zoning regulations and even building codes to name a few. Few customers realize the amount of education required of Realtors, not just for continuing education, but in achieving designations and certificates of study.

If that is not enough, learning how to effectively market properties, utilizing the latest technology and tools available keeps one not only ahead of competition, but enhances all listings by giving them greater visibility in todays marketplace.   We are moving toward technology in every aspect of our lives, who knew Realtors would need an understanding of technology to be effective marketers?  It is mind boggling considering most Realtors, when they began their careers had virtually no marketing experience. Many veteran agents have time under their belt, but do they use current marketing tools? It is a question customers must ask of their agents prior to listing with a Realtor.

Todays agents must be masters at listings, sales, and marketing.  All of these things are imperative to success. All of these change often, and all are changing with advent of social media avenues. Avenues for finding buyers and sellers and investors have changed.  Marketing methodology has morphed. A good Realtor will know what is working and what is time-worn and ineffective.

Over the past two years my marketing strategies have changed. I’m an avid reader and have been watching trends move from print advertising to the tools that today’s buyer and sellers use on a daily basis. I have attended seminars online and in person on marketing strategies, employed these in my new website, and expanded my visibility into social network environments by providing information about Tallahassee in hopes of attracting residents to our area and in obtaining buyers while establishing credibility with local sellers.

Learning about social media and marketing has helped grow my business, establish my brand, and has given me inspiration to help others learn what I have over the past few years. I have held technology seminars and continue on this path. tomorrow I will be hosting a Virtual REBarcamp webinar education seminar at my office where area agents will learn from some of the best in the business. Together we will learn, discuss and implement new marketing strategies for the upcoming year. The schedule below is what we will follow during this Virtual REBarCamp.

Keep in mind all that goes into your Realtors business and how they utilize the tools of technology along with their knowledge of all that is imperative to know in our industry. Give your Realtor a pat on the back for all that they put into your listings, your home search and your investment analysis!

Virtual REBarCamp Schedule for January 4, 2010.

It’s great when a plan comes together,..but when it comes together twice in one family, that is even more exciting! Great Financing terms and loan programs are making home ownership affordable and possible!

Case #1. Sweet young couple, hoping to be engaged, but committed to purchase a home together begin their search for their “first home”.  In this case, as with many first time home buyers, both of these young professionals are working and contributing to a household income. They are not making a killing, but are able to afford car payments, nights out, vacations and a few of the simple pleasures in life. Their goal however is to be married soon, and to acquire a home. Enter, Realtor Debbie.

The first step was qualifying,.. the second was finding a home with land.. a little piece of the American dream! Looking for land is easy, as we are surrounded by plantations, unrecorded rural subdivisions and estate properties. A small subdivision just outside the city limits fit their needs. Paved roads, half to one acre lots, only 25 home-sites and a new construction home, Sycamore Ridge was the answer! The best news.. this home qualifies for the US Rural Housing Home Loan… 100% financing with NO Mortgage insurance! With a builder willing to pay closing costs, the couple ended up bringing $28.07 to closing! What would be their down payment became money for a fence and some needed furnishings! Even more good news.. now construction like this is hard to find in Tallahassee..ergo..their value just escalated! 

Affordable NEW Homes with 100% Financing

Within days of closing,.. I was given the best post-closing gift ever.. a referral. The homeowner has a brother, with a wife and twin toddlers.. and they want to move up as well.  Same process..same loan product.. and a successful closing on a home with immediate equity!

Today I had dinner with these kids.. all 4 and the twins..their treat! It seems they both received their first time home-buyer credit money.. and took me to dinner! What a complete and utter surprise! This makes it all worthwhile!

To find out if you qualify for a rural housing 100% financing loan e-mail me at Debbie Kirkland. To read more about the First time home buyer credit for 2009 Click Here.

p.s. If you are wondering about Realtors getting customers in over their heads with 100% loan products..don’t forget:  REALTORS are bound by a code of ethics…I take that seriously. Counseling home buyers and working with customers for AFFORDABLE homes and SMART purchases is  both my business and my obligation. My buyers are well prepared and represented!

According to someone on Twitter.. today is “I Love You Day” or something! I have no idea.. but my mailbox is full of LOVE today. Who cares.. I feel loved for sure!

Everybody loves their Realtor! Why?  I have a  pretty good idea! 

This morning I got up at 7 am to have breakfast with my two last customers.. my first time home buyers, who took me out to breakfast with a part of their $8000 first time home-buyer credit money!  (Wow.. now that’s a treat!) But, while eating, an idea came to me.. so what better to do than write about it while sitting at open house.

Your Realtor.. are they smart, funny, intelligent,.. do you connect or is there silence (hello… anyone home???)  People forget we are people too. Most agents have NOT been in the business their entire lives.. although there are few locally raised in it.. and that’s all I hear… booorrring. Good people.. just no connection. Anyway… It is my belief that the BEST in the business have a great deal more knowledge than all that pertains to the very important real estate knowledge. They have,.. well.. life experience. They connect to people, they laugh, they have fun.. they shop at the same grocery as you.. and yes.. some have even cleaned your teeth before! (did I say I was a dental hygienist in my previous life?) 

When I started in the business.. some.. well.. 8 years ago now, the first thing I did was interview all the local “Big Boys and Girls in Real Estate” business, ( a great book!!).  How’d they do it.. Why do they still do it, and What can they tell me about how to make it happen?  those were me three questions.  Well, they’re still doing it.. and I am there with them.

Three things they, now we, have in common.

1. They love life… if real estate ended tomorrow.. these people will be having fun.. somewhere. I’m amazed.. artists, former PR people, Moms, geeks, teachers, probasketball player,.. you name it.. people in real estate are used to change and variety. They thrive on it! 

2. They work about 90 – 100 hours a week.  Hmm..how many of you think Realtors drive around and play golf all day? Think again.. my customers get my finest email compositions at 2AM.

3. They are social, connected, passionate and involved.  Whether at Board meetings (where they market your property), Chamber events, Commission meetings (where they help protect your property rights), showing properties (Where they bring qualified buyers to your property) or at a school function, they are working.. 24/7.. the wheels turn, the connections are made to set up the perfect match between buyer and seller.

So, I set up camp using those three cornerstones. It wasn’t hard! Those who know me, know I love to talk, love to explore people and places. I’ve always had a good real estate website for marketing, I belive in technolgy and that the internet and  the digital world (My Hello World)will be as much a part of out lives as a grocery store! It is a necessity! So I began with Facebook, then some blogging.. some broadcasting and video e-mails, all good for work. But the social highlight,  My good friends on Twitter.. the Twitterqueens…. now there’s a group. Keeping each other motivated, entertained, laughing and in tune to what’s new wtih technology,.. music and well.. just about anything. Connections. Social. @FloridaSunSales… all about the people and 72 characters. Conversations and mutual admiration, challenges and fun with @HeyAmaretto, @MayaREGuru, @LeslieLambert, @DeeGeeBee, @kvBuckley @KimWood @elainehanson ,.. uhh don’t worry, if I forgot someone I am SURE they will remind me! #Twitterqueens Rule.

So… find you a REALTOR.. a good one.. these are lifelong connections.. I want to see your babies grow up, (Thanks Lynn and Bob – my 4 .5 year customers.. we’ll make it happen soon…*fingers crossed*), and we really do care about you! 

So,…lighten up, enjoy the adventure,… and,… if you are coming to FLA… I’m your real estate girl. Email me… @FloridaSunSales.

Picking Up Speed in the Real Estate Market

Despite media protrayed doom and gloom, the real estate market is surviving. Lessons learned from the Great Depression keep Realtors moving forward and creating new business.

Yes! There is still a movement of real estate across the country. With job changes, life changes, and the quest for the uncharted path in life comes the need for housing.  During the Great Depression, homes were bought and sold, land traded, and building continued on some scale.

Historically, there are eerie similarities that seem to have been repeated. So much from learning from history! The failing interest only loans issued preceeding and during the Great Depression were replaced with fixed rate mortgages which became the norm until the early 2000’s. Sound familiar?  Economists warned government officials in years preceeding 1921 of the impending issues that failing capitalism would bring. The educators and intellectuals of that era leaned toward socialism and ignored the warnings of the economists. Sound familiar?

Those who made money during the depression of 1921 were those who continued to build their wealth, to provide goods and services that people depended on such as household goods and housing.  Investment groups were born as people pooled their hard earned savings to acquire housing and income producing properties. Landlords became popular, seller financing increased, and yes, in some cases was abused, but in most cases it created win-win scenarios for home-owners and property owners. The need for housing was, and always will be one of the essential elements of survival. We are getting back to the basics, we are getting creative, and we are selling homes and real estate.

Today, we are getting back to the conventional mortgage. We are encouraged to save our money, to save for the dream of homeownership, to earn the right to own a home. The government is restructuring their loans, FHA guidelines are changing and being re-designed as we speak! One thing is certain, gone are the days of free money… but as my dad always said, “There ain’t no free lunch.”  There never has been free money.  We all share in the expenses of “free down-payment” money and “down-payment assistance” money.   These funds come from government, from non-profit organizations who receive funds from government, etc. Very few programs offer monies from private investors.  In almost all cases, there is a form of re-payment, and that comes with a price. There is always a responsibility that comes with home-ownership, the first being you have to pay for it!

The good news is, there is still affordable housing. There are homes for sale what are NOT short sales or foreclosures, that can be bought for reasonable prices. Can you expect a homeowner who has cared for their home, maintained their home and responsibly acquired equity in their home to give this home away for prices comparable to those who have not – the short sales and foreclosures? No, you can not. This is not true comparison shopping. If you are shopping for bargain basement properties, go to that market, if you are shopping for quality and value shop in that market. Be specific with you Realtor, be realistic in your expectations of time involved to acquire your properties. There is a huge difference in the distressed sale and non-distressed sale expected closing times.

The nuts and bolts of the market are this… it’s a great time to buy, it’s still a good time to sell and acquire a reasonable profit if you are not over-extended or credit-challenged and have gained steady equity during your period of ownership.  If you have not, that is where a Realtor can help you get creative, can explore your options for selling and purchasing.