Venice, FL

The approach of the 4^th of July holiday weekend brings on a time of reflection. Reflection of the struggles we overcame to become the great nation we are today. Despite the economic hardships we face as a nation; despite the political, religious, and sociological differences we face as a people, we come together every year at this time to celebrate our independence.

The first Independence Day celebration was said to take place in Philadelphia in 1777. They held an official dinner, 13-gun salute, parades, picnics, fireworks, and decorated in red, white, and blue. Today we celebrate in much the same manner. Our cities and towns hold parades, our families get together for picnics and BBQ's, and then we all, in our own way, watch the fireworks. Whether it is out over the Statue of Liberty, over the Golden Gate Bridge, on the TV, or while sitting on the beach in paradise, we will watch the red, white, and blue bursts of light gleaming across the sky.

We will be watching from our own paradise listing (The Beleza on Venice Beach unit 704) as the fireworks burst over the Jetties. This year, as in all years past and all to come, those fireworks will bring on a renewed sense of how proud we are to live in this country, how proud we are of our service men and women who fight for our freedom, and how lucky we are to be living the American dream.

On the Island of Venice as of today according to MY Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service there are 84 active single family homes for sale priced from $97,800 to $2,700,000. There are 7 single family homes in sale pending and 33 homes have sold this year.

There are 153 active condos on the market priced from $64,900 to $1,599,000. There are 18 condos in sale pending and 59 Island of Venice condos have sold this year.

Nick Herron & Kathleen Herron of the Herron Group / RE/MAX Alliance Group would be glad to show you any of the properties listed on Sarasota Barrier Islands of Island of Venice, Casey Key, Siesta Key, Manasota Key, Longboat and Lido Key. Call 941.350.5035 or 800.789.6580.

Beach, Bay or Back Nine...Live the Dream

The number of single family homes pending in the Venice real estate market jumped in April 2009, up over 116% from 15 months ago from 222 properties pending to 480 properties*, an indicator of buyers interest in the Venice real estate market. Even though the number of available homes for sale in Venice continues to decline, we are still in a Buyer's market. If you are considering selling your home there are steps you can take to ensure a successful sale.

Know Your Competition

Knowing your competition is the key to getting your home sold. If you are not aware of what you are up against you will be dead in the water. In today's market, your competition (other homes like yours that are currently for sale) is strong and everyone is competing for the same thing; the buyers attention. Start to look at houses for sale from the buyer's perspective. Find out what your neighbor's are offering, visit open houses on the weekends, and discover what kind of incentives builders are offering for new homes. Listen to what the buyers are saying and what they are looking for in a home. This will help you prepare your home for sale and give you that needed edge over your competition.

Pricing your home is the key to selling quickly

Internet exposure, curb appeal, the right color of paint, open houses and yard signs - it's all part of attracting the right buyer. But the right buyers also need to know they're buying for the right price. Pricing your home correctly from the start is extremely important. Buyers will overlook your home even if it is priced "just a little too high." You need to realize that today's market is what it is. You cannot dwell on what your home was worth two years ago, or what your neighbour got for their home six months ago, but focus on what you can get in today's market. Your home is a commodity and is only worth what buyers are willing to pay for it NOW. If you price your home "just a little high" you will be chasing the market and eventually receive less money for your home that if you priced your home right to begin with.

Turnkey conditions

In a buyer's market your home needs to be ready for immediate occupancy. Two or three years ago not replacing old and smelly carpets or painting those scuffed up walls was acceptable. Not in today's real estate market. Make sure all appliances are in working order, walls are freshly painted, and the yard is well manicured and depersonalize your home so buyers can envision what their stuff will look like in your home.

Be prepared to negotiate

Today's buyers are savvy, they are doing their homework and know the current real estate market conditions. If you priced your home just 5% to 8% more than you expected to get you should attract multiple buyers which discourages low offers and you will find out pretty quickly if the buyers are willing to pay what you are offering. If a home is priced 10% to 20% higher than the current market is bearing, buyers typically submit low offers with contingencies. If the buyers are getting a mortgage then your home needs to appraise for what you are asking. If the home does not appraise you need to drop the negotiated price or the buyer can walk and loose a willing and able buyer.

Offer incentives

Pricing your home correctly is not the only strategy to getting your home sold. Offering incentives is another way to attract buyers. You can get a creative as you like and I have even seen brand new cars offered to homebuyers. You don't need to get as crazy as that to bring attention to your home. Some ideas for incentives; offer homebuyers a home warranty, pay for closing cost, pay for discount points towards lower the mortgage rate on buyers loan or offer a golf membership with the sale of your home. Making incentives does not guarantee that your home will be sold but making your home stand out from the crowd will certain increase your chances for a sale.

Contact Kari A. Battaglia, licensed Realtor® in Venice Florida at 941-270-1851 to list your home, answer questions or to help you in your search for homes for sale in Venice Florida. I currently serve customers in Venice Florida, Englewood Florida, Nokomis Florida and Laurel Florida communities. I also have Tennessee properties available in the Chattanooga area. Call me to receive a list of Tennessee properties available for sale.

Contact me by email at Kari@DiscoverVeniceRealEstate.com. Need information fast, call me direct at 941-270-1851. Copyright© 2009. By Kari A. Battaglia, All Rights Reserved.

Kari A. Battaglia, GRI - Realtor®, Broker Associate - Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate - 331 W Venice Ave., Venice, FL 34285 - 941-270-1851 direct - 941-484-9715 - office 800-969-1990 toll free - Kari@KariBattaglia.com

www.DiscoverVeniceRealEstate.com - view my listings, find valuable community info, links and more www.VeniceAreaHomesBlog.com - read my blog about news & info for Venice Real Estate www.FloridaMoves.com/Kari.Battaglia- free MLS home search, search for Venice real estate, Nokomis real estate, Englewood real estate and more

*All information obtained from data supplied by the Mid-Florida Regional MLS. MLS does not guarantee or responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by MLS does not reflect all real estate activities in the market. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Market activity for single family homes in Pelican Pointe from 5/1/09 to 5/22/09

Total single family homes listed: 37

New listings on market for April 2009: 1

Price adjustments for April 2009: 4

Properties under contract currently: 8

Properties sold in April 2009: 4

Failed to sell (expired) since 4/1/2009: 1

The homes in inventory for Venice Florida community of Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club is dropping and number of homes being sold seems to remain steady. This is a good indication that the market for this community is beginning to stabilize. Currently there is approximately 5 months of inventory for single family homes in Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club. Golf memberships are also becoming more affordable. If you are considering buying or selling a home in Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club, give me a call I am happy to answer any questions you may have.

Contact Kari A. Battaglia, licensed Realtor® in Venice Florida at 941-270-1851 to list your property for sale or to help you in your search for property in the Venice FL area, which include Venice Florida, Englewood Florida, Nokomis Florida, Laurel Florida, and Osprey Florida. We currently have available properties in the Dunlap Tennessee area and have Tennessee land for sale.

Contact me by email at Kari@KariBattaglia.com. Need information fast, call me direct at 941-270-1851. I am currently accepting referrals.

Copyright© 2009. By Kari A. Battaglia, All Rights Reserved.

Kari A. Battaglia, GRI - Realtor®, Broker Associate - Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate - 331 W Venice Ave., Venice, FL 34285 - 941-270-1851 direct - 941-484-9715 - office 800-969-1990 toll free - Kari@KariBattaglia.com

www.KariBattaglia.com, VeniceAreaHomesBlog.com, FloridaMoves.com/Kari.Battaglia

If your property is currently listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not my intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. I am happy to work with them and cooperate fully.

Market activity for single family homes in Pelican Pointe from 4/19/09 to 5/4/09

Total single family homes listed: 49

New listings on market for April 2009: 7

Price adjustments for April 2009: 4

Properties under contract currently: 13

Properties sold in April 2009: 9

Failed to sell (expired) since 4/1/2009: 2

Many of Venice Florida seasonal visitors (otherwise known as "Snow Birds") have left Florida and returned home. I do not see activity in Pelican Pointe slowing down much as a result of Venice Florida's season ending. Last year at this time (May 2008 and June 2008) there were a total 15 homes sold. Hopefully last year's activity will be an indication of this years activity for the Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club.

Contact Kari A. Battaglia, licensed Realtor® in Venice Florida at 941-270-1851 to list your property for sale or to help you in your search for property in the Venice FL area, which include Venice Florida, Englewood Florida, Nokomis Florida, Laurel Florida, and Osprey Florida. We currently have available properties in the Dunlap Tennessee area and have Tennessee land for sale.

Contact me by email at Kari@KariBattaglia.com. Need information fast, call me direct at 941-270-1851. I am currently accepting referrals.

Copyright© 2009. By Kari A. Battaglia, All Rights Reserved.

Kari A. Battaglia, GRI - Realtor®, Broker Associate - Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate - 331 W Venice Ave., Venice, FL 34285 - 941-270-1851 direct - 941-484-9715 - office 800-969-1990 toll free - Kari@KariBattaglia.com

www.sellingveniceflrealestate.com, www.KariBattaglia.com, VeniceAreaHomesBlog.com, FloridaMoves.com/Kari.Battaglia

If your property is currently listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not my intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. I am happy to work with them and cooperate fully.

Venice, Florida is one of the most beautiful communities in Florida and is located directly on the Gulf of Mexico. Venice is a very popular place to live for retired seniors and families. Venice FL is known for its beautiful beaches, scenic parks, quaint downtown shopping and its lovely boulevard shaded by giant live oaks that extend from downtown to the Venice Beaches.

Venice is also know as the "Sharks Tooth Capitlal of the World" and is the best location to find prehistoric sharks teeth and other treasures on their beautiful Florida beaches. In addition to the lovely beach, a central park along Venice's main street, Venice Avenue, is the site of concerts, arts and craft shows, and various special events.

Venice Municipal Airport is 2 miles away from downtown Venice and sits nearby the Gulf of Mexico, The airport is open to the public but there are no commercial flights available. The airport includes 2 runways, on 835 acres of land with precision weather tracking, and medium grade lighting from dusk until dawn. A lot of the area's wealthy and noteable residents use the airport for the pirivate jets. There are many real estate opportunities here including Venice Florida Homes and all other types of Venice FL real estate.

This is downtown Venice Florida where you find great local restaurants, shopping and my office, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate.

Yhis is Centenial Park, Venice Florida where you find weekly afternoon concerts enjoyed by the young and old.

This is one of many Banyan Trees that you will find on the island of Venice.

This is our South Jetties, Venice Florida. You can see in the background the condos that line the Venice Florida coastline. I did not realize at the time that I captured a picture of a dolphin playing in the Gulf of Mexico. You can find dolphin at the Jetties all the time.

This is the Crows Nest Marina where many boaters stop to enjoy Venice's famous Crows Nest Restaurant.

One of our areas most popular destinations is the Sharkeys On The Pier Restaurant. It is so much fun to eat outside on the beach and enjoy a live band playing tropical music or if you would like to go fishing on the Venice Fishing Pier.

The Venice Fishing Pier. My son recently caught a Bonnet Head Shark on the Venice Fishing Pier. Very exciting for him.

Visit one of our many unspoiled beaches here in Venice Floirda. This is Caspersons Beach in Venice Florida located just south of the Venice Fishing Pier.

One of the walk ways at Caspersons Beach in Venice Florida.

If you are interested in moving to Venice you can find beautiful luxury condos located just one block from Venice Beach. If you are intersted in relocating to our beautiful town, give me a call I would be happy to help you move.

Contact Kari A. Battaglia, licensed Realtor® in Venice Florida at 941-270-1851 to list your property for sale or to help you in your search for property in the Venice FL area, which include Venice Florida, Englewood Florida, Nokomis Florida, Laurel Florida, and Osprey Florida. We currently have available properties in the Dunlap Tennessee area and have Tennessee land for sale.

Contact me by email at Kari@KariBattaglia.com. Need information fast, call me direct at 941-270-1851. I am currently accepting referrals.

Copyright© 2008 By Kari A. Battaglia, All Rights Reserved.

Kari A. Battaglia, GRI - Realtor®, Broker Associate - Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate - 331 W Venice Ave., Venice, FL 34285 - 941-270-1851 direct - 941-484-9715 - office 800-969-1990 toll free - Kari@KariBattaglia.com

www.KariBattaglia.com, VeniceAreaHomesBlog.com, FloridaMoves.com/Kari.Battaglia