Bob's Blog

Yahoooooo

We arrived at the Title Company a few minutes early.  My buyers were smiling and chatty and thrilled this day was finally here.  Me too.  But..... as we all know, anything can happen at the last minute.  So, I'm running down the list of things to be done that I had on paper and in my head, and wondering if I missed anything BIG, saying a little prayer that if it's anything let it be a minor detail. 

Everyone sits down at the table and we start.  Things are going great, everyone is still smiling and happy.  All the signatures are done, and the Closing Agent looks at me and asks ... "Do you have a check for me Bob?".  My mind racing with "OMG was I supposed to bring a check? And what for?".  I know I had to have a dumb look on my face, as I looked at her and then at the selling agent.  Closing Agent sensing my fear, asks "Do you have a depost check for me or did you already give that to me?"  Whew!!!  I reply...."I gave that to you a month ago" as I reach for my handkerchief and wipe my brow. 

We all had a good laugh at that.  And so went the closing.  Without a hitch.... sort of.

Sun City Center was developed and designed by Del Webb in 1961.  It was destined to become Florida's Premier Retirement Town.  The deed restrictions are that one resident in the household must be 55 years or older with no one under the age of 18 year permitted to reside for more than 30 days each year.  There are exceptions granted as per Federal Housing laws on a case by case basis.  All pets must be on a leash and clothes lines, fences and antennas are not permitted in most areas. 

Sun city Center is conveniently located on Florida's West Coast between Sarasota and Tampa along the I-75 corridor.  Sun City Center is a mere minutes from some of Florida's best beaches along the Gulf of Mexico.  Some of these beaches are the finest in the world.  The town has been professionally planned and developed over the years to provide a variety of housing to accommodate the retirement lifestyle, ranging from small get-away home (for snowbirds) to larger entertaining homes for year round lifestyles.

Sun City Center has maintained a constant growth over the years, with homeowners coming from all over the United State, Canada and abroad.  You have the option here to live in the open community (Sun City Center - consisting of single family, duplex villa and condo homes), or the gated community (Kings Point - full service condominiums).  There are several other types of lifestyles here to include Lake Towers (a high rise and assisted care facility and nursing home), The Courtyards and Aston Gardens (independent living rental facilities), as well as  Freedom Plaza, Homewood  Residence, Cypress Creek Assisted Living Residence, and Benton House. 

No matter what your choice of home may be, an active lifestyle is yours for the taking here in Sun City Center.  Home prices range from the $30,000's to $700,000's.  You can choose to live in full, part or no maintenance areas.  It's all in your budget.

Community Association yearly dues are $245.00 per person in Sun City Center, which include indoor and outdoor pools, tennis, shuffleboard, lawnbowling greens, state of the art fitness center, hobby centers, game and meeting roomsfor over 200 clubs, Town hall, Community Hall and a theater.

Kings Point dues are included in the condominium fees.  Included in these fees are indoor and outdoor pools, tennis, shuffleboard and pickle ball courts, lawn bowling greens, fitness and hobby centers, game and meeting rooms, and a 10,000 square foot theater with top entertainers on a regular basis.

A large number of our residents are active golfers.  Whether you're a beginner or a pro, you can enjoy playing on one of our numerous golf courses.  Sun City Center is also home of the internationally know Ben Sutton School of Golf. 

Sun City Center provides it residents with a friendly, energetic or easygoing lifestyle.  A wide assortment of shops, dining establishments, professional services, postal and religious services all with the boundaries of Sun City Center.  We also have a complete fire and police and medical services, along with a 1400+ member volunteer Security Patrol for peace of mind.  Certified Volunteer Resident Emergency Medical Service/Transportation; South Bay Hospital; Hillsborough County Sheriff and Fire Departments.

Every day, all day, Sun City Center provides its residents with the means to enjoy a lifestyle others only dream about. 

Visit us and see for yourself.

Way back in October, I was doing floor duty and a couple called asking for information on a home in town.  After discussing what they wanted to look at, I made an appointment for that afternoon to show them the home they were asking about, and lined up a couple others in that same area.  They were looking for a small house 2/2, 1 car carport was fine, about 1200 sf with a conservation in the back.  Most of the homes in the area were about the same, but one was a bit bigger, and on water.

After looking at all the homes I showed them, they decided they liked the house on the water best.  We talked it over, and although they liked the conservation area, they preferred the water.  They currently had a home on a large lake, and enjoyed the view.  The waterfront home they liked was overpriced and needed some work.  They said they would need to sell their current home before they could seriously think about buying this one. So, I placed a big check next to that house and told them I would keep them posted as to any status changes.  I also asked if they would like me to search for other homes on water that might fit their needs, and they agreed.

I sent them several groups of homes....5 at a time, to look over and two weeks later we looked at a group of 5 homes that they had narrowed the list down to, plus a few they had driven by while visiting friends in town.  Also, they decided that the house on the water in the conservation area wouldn't work for them as they were told it was a flood area.  Oh boy....was all I could think.

I worked with this couple for 4 months and we finally had it narrowed down to 3 finalists.  Meanwhile, they had put their home on the market and 2 weeks later they had a contract on the house and were ready to get serious. On their last visit, they brought their daughter and son-in-law along to help them decide.  They told me "Today is the day we have to find a home".  I made appointments at the 3 homes we had narrowed it down to, and did one final search and came across another house that fit the bill and priced a bit lower than the first 3, that had just been listed the day before.  So, I asked if they wouldn't mind looking it over.  They agreed, and off we went. 

First house, was a nice place that had been nicely remodeled inside, and aside from being overpriced needed a new roof and there was damage around the back windows and doors.  Son-in-law (who turned out to be a contractor) said to put this one at the bottom of the list. 

Second house, is is one we had previewed 3 times before, and son-in-law really liked this one.  So, this one went to the top of the list.

House #3 wasn't on as big a lake but showed nicer and was a bigger house for less money.  Also, set up and floorplan appealed to them all.  So, this house now moved up to #1 position and they decided this is the one they wanted to buy. "Let's go back to the office and write an offer" is what the husband said.  I was a bit taken back, since this really wasn't the house I thought they would choose.  Little do we know, right?  So, I agreed, and mentioned that since we had made an appointment to look at the 4th house, it would only be fair to swing by.  Just take a quick run through, and then back to the office.

So... on the way to the 4th house, I call the office, and tell my team mate to get the paperwork together and be ready to put together an offer for house #3, and that we would be back at the office as soon as we did a quick run through of house #4. 

House #4.  Right off the bat... WOW!  Curb appeal is wonderful.  We ring the bell, and I can hear son-in-law saying "This might just outdo the others Dad".  Owner opens the door, we step in and a colletive WOW again.  Ovner goes out onto the screened enclosed lanai and leaves us to look the house over.  You can feel the excitement in the air!  Everyone is enthralled.  I especially watch the Mrs. as she is the final deciding factor.  After checking out the inside extensively (3 times through), we go to the outside.  Now, the biggie.  ZERO landscaping.  Except for a few small trees and shrubs, the ground is covered in stone.  I figured...done deal.  House #3. 

Surprise!  "Bob, we changed our minds" "We love this house and want to make an offer"  I'm sure my mouth dropped open, and I had to ask if they were ok with the zero landscaping.  To them it really didn't matter, as the house was "perfect".  They apologized for running me all over and changing their mind at the last minute like that.  My response...."That's my job, and finding you a house that brings "WOW" out of you tells me I did my job."

At any rate, they made the offer, owner accepted, and we close this week. 

We started out looking for a smaller home 1200sf, 1 car garage or carport was ok, and needed to be in a conservation area.  We ended up with a home 1900sf+ with a 2 car garage on water, with zero landscaping. 

Moral of the story - Just because they think they want one thing, they don't always end up with what they think they want.  If it's the right house, they will know it almost immediately.

I just read an article that talks about the rising interest rates.  This is probably the sign the media has been waiting for to tell buyers now is the time to buy, but of course they will wait a couple weeks.  By then, who knows where the rates will be.  Keep a close watch on the rates or your buyers will lose out big.  Informed buyers are happy buyers. 

Because of copywrite issues, I am changing this blog to include the url where I found the article, rather than do the cut and paste I did earlier. 

http://www.huliq.com/51373/rising-mortgage-rates

I will take the chance of repeating myself from a previous blog...As my broker told me, by the time the media tells the public it's time to buy, it will be too late.

I recently had to make a quick trip to the west coast.  Only stayed for 3 days, but during that time, I talked with several people about the market there.  I was in Riverside for most of my stay, and was told by a couple who were planning to buy a home in the San Bernadino area.  They felt the market was at a all time low and figured they could get a house at a good price, put minimal money and fix it up and resell it for a profit.  They said they understood the market was slow, but if the house was priced right, it would sell.  I think they may be on to something.  Anyone in the area - feel free to speak out. 

Also, while I was on a layover in Las Vegas I met with some friends.  They said a lot of folks out there were just walking away from their homes.  Might be a good place to get a great deal if you have the money. 

Happy hunting.

I often hear the question about whether to buy now or wait a bit longer.  That is a really difficult question to answer at times, because the market is constantly changing and the nedia insists that it will continue to be in a slump for at least another year.  Not every area is in the same predicament.  Anyway, I came upon this article and thought it covered the question fairly well.  As my broker says...by the time we hear it's a good time to buy from the media, it will be too late.   

The article - written by June Fletcher of the The Wall Street Journal, and she gives a generalized verion which covers the topic very well. 

In a nutshell, we are in a "Buyers Market", and the Buyers not the Sellers set the prices.   The seller can only set the asking price....the real price is whatever the buyer pays for it.

  Housing prices are down, interest rates are low, and the buyers are out looking for deals.  Make it happen.