When selling your home, Fido shouldn’t be seen … or smelled. Here are the top recommendations Realtors® make to pet-owning clients putting their house on the market (in order of most-suggested):
Take animal out of home for showings (78%)
Replacing anything damaged by pet (72%)
Cleaning home to remove animal scent (70%)
Having home professionally cleaned (61%)
Removal of pet objects (47%)
Replacing carpet or finishing floors (33%)
SOURCE: National Association of Realtors® report “Animal House: Pets in the Home Buying and Selling Process” (April 2020)
I hope this information keeps you informed and I thank Florida Realtors for allowing us to share this.
Have a Great Day!
As always, for all your Real Estate needs in the Sarasota Area Call or Text Larry @ 941-993-3125 or Go to Larry’s RE/MAX Site and search all you like LarrySellsSarasota.com
Let’s take a look at residential real estate activity in your area during the month of December.
Sarasota Real Estate Stats for December 2021
Sarasota County Real Estate Market Update December 2021
Homes SOLD 836 Median Sale Price $436,000 Average Days on Market – 20 Available Inventory .6 months
Sarasota Real Estate Market Update
(videos updated monthly)
The number of active listings was down 61% from one year earlier and down 24% from the previous month.
This smaller inventory means that buyers that waited to buy may have had a smaller selection of homes to choose from.
The median listing price for the month was just under $600,000.
Compared to last year the average number of days units spent on the market before being sold was down 61%.
This lower number of days may signal a positive trend in the local inventory turnover rate.
The median sale price was just under $440,000.
The number of units sold decreased 20% year over year and held steady month over month.
Fewer sales could indicate an opportunity for buyers to negotiate better terms.
Thanks for watching. I hope you found this video helpful as you gather more information to make smart informed real estate decisions if you’d like more information or assistance please Call or Text me @ 941-993-3125
Larry Brzostek Broker/Associate Information courtesy of RE/MAX Alliance Group – Sarasota, FL
Are you a permanent Florida Resident and homeowner?
If you are, have you filed for the Florida Homestead Exemption?
Sold by Larry Brzostek
Hi, I’m Larry Brzostek with RE/MAX Alliance Group. I can walk you through what the Homestead Exemption is and why it matters to you.
What is the Florida Homestead Exemption?
As a permanent Florida Resident and homeowner, you are entitled to get a homestead exemption on your primary residence. The exemption is a $50,000 reduction of the assessed value of your home which determines your property taxes.
What are the eligibility requirements for the Homestead Exemption?
To be eligible for the Homestead Exemption your home must be your primary residence as of January 1 in the year you are filing. If you rented the property in the previous year, you only could have done so for a maximum of 30 days.
When should I file an application for a homestead exemption?
Your application must be filed between January 1 and March 1. The March 1st deadline is in year you are filing. You can file online in Sarasota County using the Sarasota Appraiser’s site https://www.sc-pa.com and look under Exemptions. If the property you are homesteading is in another county, look under that county’s appraiser site.
What documentation do I need to file for the homestead exemption?
All documentation must show your permanent residence address. You will need: • Valid Florida Driver License or Valid Florida Identification card with the ID number and issue date. • Florida Vehicle registration (if vehicle owner) with tag number and issue date. • Voter registration (if registered voter) with ID number and issue date.
If you are not a citizen, you will need your Permanent Resident Alien Card with ID number and issue date. (Also, you must submit a copy will be as part of the exemption application).
What other information is on the exemption application?
You will also have to provide the following: • Date of birth • Social Security Number (if you are married, you will also be required to provide your spouse’s SSN) • Date you purchased the property • Date you occupied the property • Address of previous residence • Address of other property or properties owned • Telephone number • Employment information (if applicable) • Mailing address listed in last IRS tax return
Married couples filing for homestead exemption must complete the application during the same application session. If you are married AND your spouse is NOT filing for homestead exemption, you will be asked to provide the following information:
• Name of spouse • Spouse’s Social Security Number • Spouse’s Date of birth • Spouse’s Florida Driver License or Florida Identification Card number (if applicable) • Spouse’s primary residence address & residency-based exemptions/discount information
In addition to the homestead benefit the Save Our Homes (SOH) cap was established in 1995 according to Florida Statutes. The SOH cap is placed on the Assessed Value the year after the property receives a Homestead Exemption and is based on the lower of the following:
Three percent of the Assessed Value of the property for the prior year, or the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means your taxes will not increase by more than 3% in any given year.
In 2008 a constitutional amendment was passed adding portability of the exemption; allowing some or all of the exemption to be transferred to another home. Very beneficial to a homeowner who trades up to a larger home or one who downsizes to a smaller one.
Do you qualify for additional homestead exemptions in Sarasota?
To find out if you qualify for additional homestead exemptions, Contact the Property Appraiser’s office in the county that your property is located.
Hopefully this information will help you. Happy homesteading!
For more information Call or Text me @941-993-3125 And Checkout my Website LarrySellsSarasota.com
To earn top dollar and sell your home more quickly, you need to make it stand out from the competition. And one of the best ways to do that is through staging.
4 Reasons to stage 1. Your home will shine online. Buyers first found 92% of the homes they visited on the internet. Good staging can make your home stand out before buyers even visit. 2. It shows off the potential. 77% of agents say staging makes it easier for buyers to visualize a property as their future home. 3. It spurs walk-throughs. Clients are more willing to walk through a home that has been staged, according to 40% of agents. 4. Your home will sell faster. Nearly two-thirds of agents say staging decreases the amount of time a home spends on the market.
6 most important rooms to stage 1. Living Room 2. Master bedroom 3. Kitchen 4. Outdoor space 5. Dining room 6. Bathroom
“Staging is preparing a home for sale so the buyer can mentally move in.” Barb Schwarz, California Realtor and chairwoman of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals.
Simple fixes agents recommend Declutter – 93% (“Clutter eats equity.” says Barb Schwarz.) Full home cleaning – 89% Carpet cleaning – 81% Remove pets before showings – 80% Make minor repairs – 75% Depersonalize the home – 72% Paint walls – 68%
Cost of professional staging Most stagers charge $300 to $600 for an initial consultation, then $500 to $600 per room per month.
Sources: NAR 2017 Profile of Home Staging, Househunt.com, realtor.com, Barb Schwarz
I hope this information keeps you informed and I thank Florida Realtors for allowing us to share this.
Have a Great Day!
As always, for all your Real Estate needs in the Sarasota Area Call or Text Larry @ 941-993-3125 or Go to Larry’s RE/MAX Site and search all you like LarrySellsSarasota.com
by Peter Crowley, President of RE/MAX Alliance Group
Peter Crowley, Broker/Owner RE/MAX Alliance Group
Last week Zillow sent a shock wave through the real estate industry when it announced that it was exiting the home-flipping market and terminating its Zillow Offers program. Just a few weeks earlier, Zillow claimed it was merely pausing its purchasing efforts in order to catch up with the backlog of properties it currently held in its pipeline. Ultimately, Zillow’s CEO, Richard Barton, realized the decision was more permanent when he stated, “We’ve determined the unpredictability in forecasting home prices far exceeds what we anticipated, and continuing to scale Zillow Offers would result in too much earnings and balance-sheet volatility.”
This had many real estate professionals claiming a win over the 1,000-pound gorilla that is Zillow. For years, the Zillow Zestimate has been the bane of the real estate agent’s existence as an often wildly inaccurate estimate of a home’s value. Zillow claimed to have refined its home-valuation algorithms to the point where it could accurately predict what price to buy and then subsequently flip the house at a profit. In reality, however, closer analysis of Zillow’s property portfolio demonstrated that it was overpaying for properties (a win for some sellers) but eventually listing and selling those properties at a loss. This may not seem like a big deal for a company the size of Zillow, but those losses will likely total in excess of $500 million when all of the write-offs are accounted for as the program winds down. Even with a balance sheet as large as Zillow’s, this is a big financial hit, and investors have taken note with a beating to the stock price in recent weeks.
I have been reluctant to high-five my fellow real estate agents over this news. First, as a result of terminating its Zillow Offers program, they announced a reduction of 25% of their workforce – that is more than 1,000 individuals who will be out of work and should not be overlooked. Second, and maybe less obvious, is that Zillow is still the behemoth that it was before this setback. It is still a company that relies heavily on the paid advertising platform that was the foundation of the company’s success. Who pays for that advertising? Many of the same real estate agents who were pounding their chests when Zillow swung and missed on the Zillow Offers program.
Rest assured, I am not a cheerleader for Zillow. Ever since the company stood on stage several years ago and insisted that it was only a marketing company and would never enter the real estate business, only to turn around and do exactly that a few years later, let’s just say I have a healthy dose of skepticism about the company’s intentions. But as long as Zillow maintains its grasp on the real estate consumer, it will continue to pivot toward profitability and growth – eventually.
What this setback does demonstrate, however, is that real estate is in fact very local. A real estate professional does more than place a sign in the yard. The local expertise of a real estate professional lends itself to better pricing decisions, a cadre of local connections to vendors integral to the home-buying and selling process and an overall understanding of the intangible nuances of the local real estate market. Algorithms and a seemingly endless supply of cash can fix some things, but some things are better left to the local experts.
Peter Crowley is the president of Re/Max Alliance Group.
We would like to thank our guest author Peter Crowley Larry and Ann Brzostek
As always, for all your Real Estate needs in the Sarasota Area Call or Text Larry @ 941-993-3125 or Go to Larry’s RE/MAX Site and search all you like LarrySellsSarasota.com
Right now, there are not enough houses for sale, with many buyers looking at a small inventory. So, if you’re thinking about selling your home, now is the ideal time to put your house on the market. Many houses are selling above their asking price, which means more money in your pocket.
But how do you sell your home?
First you meet with a real estate professional. There is no commitment required on your part for an initial meeting. It will be educational and help you identify your next steps.
I’m Larry Brzostek a Broker/Associate with Re/MAX Alliance Group and I will guide you through the process.
Establish a Price As your agent I will provide a market analysis, which will help you set an asking price.
Tips on Strategic Pricing It’s important to review the market analysis and consider your home price objectively.
Prepare Your Home View your home through the eyes of the buyer and ask yourself what you’d expect. I will offer some useful suggestions.
List It For Sale When everything is in place, I will put your home in the Multiple Listing System. It’s critical for potential buyers to view your home.
I will also create a virtual tour of your home along with a youtube video. Social media is another important tool and your home will be posted regularly.
Getting your home the most exposure:
I use Adwerx a web company that places your home on Facebook as well as throughout the web on both desktop and mobile devices.
Open Houses are scheduled at your convenience (usually on weekends) but are not always necessary to sell you home.
Tips on Showings I like to give my seller’s at least 24 hours notice for a showing
However, Potential buyers may ask to see your home on short notice. It’s best if you can accommodate these requests. You never want to miss a potential sale.
Offers and Negotiation If everything goes well, a buyer (and most often the agent who represents them) will present me, your agent, with an offer.
I will present the benefits and risks of each offer. You will have the opportunity to either accept or counter any offer based on its merits.
Under Contract At this point, you and the buyer have agreed to all of the terms and conditions of the offer and both parties have signed the agreements.
Final Details While under contract the buyer will work with their mortgage provider to finalize the loan and perform other due diligence.
Inspection Tips The buyer will usually perform a physical inspection of the home. They may even ask you to make certain repairs. I will explain all your options regarding the inspection.
Closing This is the transfer of funds and ownership. Depending on when the buyer moves into the home, you will need to be all packed up and ready to move.
CONGRATUALTIONS! You’ve successfully sold your home.
Thinking of Selling? I can help! Contact me and let’s talk! Call or Text me @ 941.993.3125
Have a Great Day! Larry
As always, for all your Real Estate needs, call or text Larry @ 941-993-3125 or Go to Larry’s RE/MAX Site and search all you like LarrySellsSarasota.com
Location! Location! Location! Sarasota, Florida is accessible, close to airports and major highways. It is one of the most beautiful locations in the USA. Magnificent Beaches, Arts and Entertainment are all here in this Paradise on the Gulf Coast!
I’m Larry Brzostek a Broker/Associate with Re/MAX Alliance Group and I will guide you through the process.
Types of Property A second home can be a single family home, a condominium or a multifamily with 2 or more units (adding the possibility of rental income Each type of property has its own pros and cons. Consider carefully how you will use the property. If you like to work on your home, choose a single or multi-family. If you prefer all maintenance to be done for you, then a condominium with a monthly maintenance fee Deciding what you like and how you will use it should give you direction in your search.
Consider how you’ll use the home. Will it just be for family and friends, or do you plan to rent it as well? And realistically, how many times will you use it per year?
Evaluate locations. Are there enough amenities and attractions to keep you – and renters – coming back year after year? Local building and zoning codes should be investigated. Are they restrictive or nonexistent? Does the property conform to the codes and can the property be rebuilt in event of damage. These are important questions.
Availability and Inventory In this fast changing Real Estate Market it is important to know what homes are available. Its is also important to Get prequalified (a loan approval for a certain dollar based on finding an acceptable property) cuts down on the closing time.
Negotiating Once you have found the property that suits your needs, negotiating the transaction can make it yours. The more questions you ask (and get answers to) the more able you are to sketch out an offer that will be acceptable to the seller. Every real estate transaction has 3 elements – Price, Terms. and Conditions. Neither buyer nor seller always gets all three. For example, a buyer willing to meet the seller’s price might want concessions on the terms (ex. large mortgage contingency, later closing) and/or conditions (repairs to property, extra items included). How long a property is on the market is not confidential and may give you some insight to make a win-win proposal for both parties.
Financing and Tax Considerations Talk to your accountant or financial advisor This person can advise you on such issues as the tax implications of rental income (should you decide to rent your property and changes in Federal tax laws that could impact deductions.
Working with an Agent I am a professional Real Estate agent and make my living marketing and selling properties.
Knowledge: Knowing the Comps (comparable properties that are listed and more importantly, comparable properties that have recently sold) can be critical in your decision on the offer you make on the property.
Experience: I’ve been selling second homes and vacation properties since 1986 starting on Long Beach Island, NJ and Here in Sarasota, FL since 2005.
Dependability: I am always available to meet the needs of my clients No location or town is perfect; a successful agent knows the pluses and minuses of the area. A good agent can help you find your dream house; a great agent can make it a pleasure!
Service: Expect outstanding service and GET IT!
Check out my website LarrySellsSarasota.com Look around you can search for properties and find more information about Sarasota and much more
CONGRATULATIONS! You are a Second Home Owner
For more information Call or Text me @941-993-3125
You walk into the dramatic 2-story entrance where the living room with a gas fireplace opens to the pool and lanai.
This 5060 SqFt classic luxury colonial home is truly special with 5 bedrooms (4 on them en-suite), 4 full baths, 2 half baths and 3 gas fireplaces.
The screened lanai and pool feature an outdoor kitchen, lagoon style pool and spa with a preserve view for privacy.
There is a formal dining room with crown molding.
The open floor plan includes a kitchen with granite counters and center cooking island with a breakfast area, a sun room.
Beyond is the family room with the second fireplace; also opening to the pool and Lanai.
The master bedroom is where you will find the third fireplace it features a sitting room, master bath with dual vanities, granite counters, garden tub and shower. Dual walk-in closets with built-ins
Laurel Oak Country Club
Laurel Oak Country Club is 813 acres with only 402 homes
The country club has two 18-hole golf courses 12 tennis courts junior Olympic heated pool and a 45,000 square foot clubhouse
Membership is not mandatory for those who want to live in laurel oak and there are several levels of membership to choose from.
Have a Great Day!
As always, for all your Real Estate needs in the Sarasota Area Call or Text Larry @ 941-993-3125
Go to Larry’s RE/MAX Site and search all you like, you can contact Larry directly from the website LarrySellsSarasota.com
You’re finally buying your dream home. It’s time to wire your closing costs to the title company. You follow the directions of an email that came to your inbox. Only, the email was fraudulent, and you just lost your hard-earned cash… and the house of your dreams.
It’s called wire fraud, and it’s happening all around the country. Criminals comb through sites looking for pending home sales. Once identified, they will find contact information for the parties involved in the transaction. It’s easy to do through public websites and online searches. Then, they hack into a real estate agent’s or title company’s email system, monitor communications, and, when the time is right, send a fraudulent email that looks like its from a trusted advisor. That email will offer falsified wire transfer instructions to steal mortgage payoff funds, a downpayment or closing costs.
How can you avoid being a victim?
Be skeptical. Beware of any changes in wiring instructions, like those that have you wire money to a company that is not the same name as the title company you’re using.
Ask for phone calls. Ask for all wire transfer instructions to be delivered to you via phone with the number listed on the title company’s website. If you receive an email that details changes in the wire transfer instructions and that email contains a phone number, don’t call it.
Verify all communications. Call the title company immediately after you send any funds via wire transfer to verify it right away. This check-in will give you the confirmation that you sent the funds to the appropriate account and the confidence and peace of mind that the transaction wasn’t real estate fraud.
Confirm the details. Ask your bank to confirm the account number as well as the name listed on the account before sending a wire transfer.
Learn to spot a fraudulent email. There are telltale signs that an email is a fraud. Look for misspellings, poor grammar and mistakes in the content. Many times, the property address is spelled incorrectly, dollar figures are missing dollar signs, and the return email address doesn’t match, or the company name is spelled incorrectly.
If you are a victim of a wire fraud crime in Florida, call the Attorney General’s Fraud Hotline at (866) 966- 7226. You should also file a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). To do so, contact the nearest FBI field office. Locations are listed at fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices
Sources: altitle.com and Bay National Title Company Florida Realtors
I hope this information keeps you informed and I thank Florida Realtors for allowing us to share this.
Have a Great Day!
As always, for all your Real Estate needs in the Sarasota Area Call or Text Larry @ 941-993-3125 or Go to Larry’s RE/MAX Site and search all you like LarrySellsSarasota.com
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