Real Estate Matters

   Beginning October 1st, Judy, Paul and I are moving to RE/MAX Platinum Realty in downtown Sarasota.  Over the last three years we have development a successful working strategy at Suncoast International Realty and now, with signs of the local real estate market improving, we want to position ourselves as the market leader in the greater Sarasota area. We feel that RE/MAX Plantinum Realty with help us achieve our goal.

RE/MAX agents average 12 years of experience, far exceeding the industry average and surpass their peers in professional designations.  RE/MAX is in all 50 states and over 63 countries with over 120,000 associates worldwide.  These associates actively refer leads and customers directly to each other and we feel that will greatly benefit our clients and customers.

Our marketing focus will continue to market Sarasota properties to the world and RE/MAX is an unquestioned global success story. From Vancouver to Sydney, from New York to Brazil, from virtually every nation in Western and Northern Europe, Portugal, Turkey and Italy, consumers view RE/MAX messages: print and television ads, billboards, yard signs, personal promotion materials and of course, on the internet. 

We're clearly energized with this move and look forward to providing more quality services to our friends and clients. Stay tuned, more to come.

Cheers,

Bill

Pending sales also remained high and consistent, with 830 properties going under contract in August 2009, compared to 802 in July 2009. Pending sales have now exceeded the 500 level for the 20th consecutive month and the 800 level for the sixth straight month. Generally, pendings trend downward during the summer months, the slower sales season in our market.

We are continuing to educate our clients and potential clients on the $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers, as we are rapidly approaching the expiration time of Nov. 30, 2009 when these types of sales must be finalized. With the higher levels of short sales and foreclosures remaining in our local market, we can reasonably expect our sales statistics to be skewed. However, we may be seeing a turning point in recent months, as the numbers seem to have bottomed out for single family prices.

It is difficult to predict what will happen du^ring the remainder of the year. But lower inventories, sales remaining above the 500 level, and higher pending sales figures all point to a return to stability.

We appear to have weathered the storm well, and while tomorrow's economic weather forecast remains to be seen. I'm confident and enthusiastic about our future prospects. People who live here and our visitors know that there is no place like Sarasota, and the selling points for this area are obvious.

Cheers,  Bill Geller