SOLD in Live Oak Reserve, Oviedo FL

Two-storey beauty with 4 bedrooms and 3 baths, formal everything, screened lanai, downstairs guest bedroom/office, updated kitchen, and hardwood floors.

The homeowners had originally listed their house with another agent and called me based on an expired mailing I had sent them months before.

We listed the house in February 2009. Since the subdivision is new, it was ripe for an epidemic of short sales and bank-owned offerings. Fortunately, the owners purchased in the early phase of development.

The homeowners took pride in everything, always had a model-ready home to show, and always were accommodating for showings.

Realtors® had to go through me to arrange for appointments. We did this so the owners would only have to talk to one agent — me — and also so that agents couldn’t take advantage of the homeowners with last-minute showings or broad timeframes.

We priced the house right from the outset, only once lowering the price once by a meager $5,000.

We showed the house a whopping 66 times! The owners were despairing, wondering what was wrong with their house. I kept telling them, “Nothing.” It was only because there were so many short sale and bank-owned bargains out there, not just in Live Oak Reserve but in nearby subdivisions, as well.

We received one low-ball offer that didn’t go anywhere.

Over the months, the inventory of homes available in this sought-after subdivision depleted from over 30 to less than 15. By then, most of the houses for sale were priced well above our price, and of those available with similar square footage, their home offered the best value.

Still, the owners let the initial 6-month listing agreement expire so they could think about whether they really wanted to sell.

THEY REALLY WANTED TO SELL.

After about 10 days, we put the house back on the market.

Two days after re-listing, the right buyers toured the house. They had just gotten a contract on their house and evidently had their hopes pinned on finding a house in Live Oak Reserve.

Thanks to the buyer’s agent — who was with my brokerage — the contract was clean and straightforward. No negotiations were necessary. Sale, however, was contingent on the buyer’s house closing, plus they wanted a quick close.

A month later, without any glitches, both houses closed.

The homeowners have taken up temporary residence while we search for the house they intend to be the very last house they will ever buy.