About Daytona Beach Shores' Bella Vista

Bella Vista Condominiums in Daytona Beach Shores.

Bella Vista is one of not many condos built after the Hurricanes of 2004. By the time it was complete in 2007, the market was already softening, and they had quite a few scared buyers, who opted to lose their 15% deposit and not close.

But the developer – Cook Development – were still lucky, they were able to sell the remaining unsold unit at minimum discount and get out of there before the market hit the bottom (if we assume that it already hit the bottom).

All these newer condos are beautiful, and there is no comparison to older condominium buildings in the area. If the market would have stayed high for another 3 years, we would have one of the most beautiful condos dotting the shoreline. I have seen the designs, and they were so nice.

Now it is gone, some of the land was lost to foreclosure, and until the money start flowing back, there will not be much in terms of any new development on the Beachside.

Look at availability of units in Bella Vista. 8 units only and average price is higher than the average price for units sold in Bella Vista in 2011. Of course, asking price and selling prices are not the same, but you can still notice the trend, that prices are stabilizing and even inching up.

Check all units sold in Bella Vista in 2011.

Call me for information about condos on Daytona's beachside.

This is a story from the peak of the market, but with the first signs of slowing market. We were negotiating a condo unit in Bella Vista in Daytona Beach Shores. Developer was a straightforward guy, and it was a pleasure to negotiate, no tricks, arm twisting, and all that. This somehow sent a wrong signal to the Buyer, who came with demands, and with every demand answered, now wanted more and more... and when everything he wanted was met, he demanded another discount and the developer said «No». So, the buyer walked away. The pasture was not green enough...

I was frustrated but this was life. It happened to all of us.

Few days later the unit went «Pending» in the MLS and I tried to forget about the whole thing that left a sour taste in my mouth.

And I forgot about it, until a few weeks later a lady walked into my office. She used to talk to me a lot about properties and the market and all that but never moved to engaging us. She was a licensee from another state, and was just picking my brains.

Now she proudly announced that she had bought a unit in Bella Vista. Why not with me? She victoriously smiled and looking me straight in the eyes said «Honestly, why do I need you, when I buy from the developer directly? It is business», and she smiled again, from ear to ear.

So what was that killer deal that she made with the developer?

Turned out she bought ... the very unit that we negotiated to incredible $595K (incredible at that time, of course).

I asked her what she paid.

- $775,000. Isn't that a great deal?

She was all beaming with joy. I pulled the offer that we have negotiated and showed the first page of the offer to her. She looked at it still smiling, noticed $595K and the smile started fading out slowly turning into a cringe. It took her time to read the address and legal description several times and finally it donned upon her that no, this was not a mistake...

She was crushed, it was a complete shock.

She was like a deflated balloon... She was a wreck....

Hey, lady. No hard feelings. It is business. At least now you know why you needed me.

Looking for a piece of Daytona Beachside? The closest thing to paradise? Call 386-405-4408. And, by the way, prices are much lower now...

* Photo of a girl who is laughing at me courtesy of LawPrieR via Flickr.com under Creative Commons license. Image modified.

My clients came to see this three-bedroom/three baths direct oceanfront unit in Bella Vista in Daytona Beach Shores.

The view is excellent, view east to the ocean and north, making it a panoramic spectacular view.

Unit is in perfect condition.

They liked the unit. The question is: «Isn't it overpriced?»

I know why the question came. Just yesterday another unit, just next to it (not direct oceanfront) was closed for just under $400K.

So, is it overpriced?

There are 7 units for sale in Bella Vista and this particular unit for $421 is the least expensive unit. Next unit just one floor higher is $488,900.

No, it is not overpriced. When there are several units for sale in Bella Vista, and this one is the least expensive, it is not overpriced.

What "overpriced" means? Only that in this market it can't be sold for the asking price. The lowest priced unit, which is also the lowest in comparable buildings like Palma Bella, Ocean Vistas and Ocean Villas, is not overpriced.

It is not what other units were sold there for. It is what you can sell here today. And the Seller can be pretty comfortable with the price... For as long as it is the lowest price, it is not overpriced...

Looking for the best deal in Daytona Beach Area? Prices are higher, but still good... for now. Call me at 386-405-4408.

My wonderful clients bought a gorgeous oceanfront condo in Bella Vista in Daytona Beach Shores just recently, and Jonny & Lola (names changed), now proud condo owners, share their excitement with their relatives and friends.

Last weekend their relatives came for a couple of days. They said they were interested to see what they could buy here, and Jonny asked me to show them a few units on the ocean.

So, here I am, in the unit, and I see them coming. After the introduction, Jonny turned to me and said «OK, now they are in your hands, do the tour».

Oops, I don’t do tours. I do not understand why I need to walk with people depriving them of an opportuity to discuss pros and cons of what they see in privacy, and instead do something like this:

«This is the Master Bedroom. Here is a sliding door to the balcony, and here is a walk-in closet, and, oh, here is the Master Bathroom with granite countertops, and look how nice are the light fixtures, and there is a double head in the shower...».

I do not see value in calling a kitchen a kitchen, and a bedroom a bedroom. Of course, there maybe a few things that they may not notice, or which I would love them to notice, so it will be either after they spend their time in the unit, or I would point them out before. Instead of telling them that each window and sliding door is up to new codes and are hurricane resistant, I can tell them that on the way to the building.

But as for the tour, this is something they do themselves. If I were a buyer, it would be tough for me. I am easily distracted. If an agent walks with me and talks all the time, s/he is «stealing» my attention and I would not be able to recall not what type of kitchen was there, but even whether there was a kitchen at all...

Why do that? What is there that the agent does not want me to notice?

Sorry, Jonny, but your relatives are quite capable of figuring out what the toilet is for without live demonstration...

Remember Crocodile Dundee II? There is a scene when he is in the Hotel in New York and is asking the lady about bidet in the bathroom? She does not feel comfortable explaining, and she tells him that he would figure it out himself...

Exactly...

I have been on AR for quite some time, and have sent links to some of my blogs to customers numerous times. I would usually receive an e-mail thanking me for the links, they would comment in the e-mail but they never commented on the blogs.

Imagine my surprise when I received this comment on my Catching The Sun blog:

Dear Jon

Thanks for helping us to buy our 2nd home in Daytona Beach Shores, You and your family are wonderful people. You are honest , smart and never too pushy. Also thanks for putting the sunset and sunrise pictures, you right when you explained to us that sunset is much better than sun rise, now we can understand.

Already lot of my friends are enquiring about buying property in Daytona beach, Fl

Thanks for everything

Ramesh & Bhagya

It made me feel good, which is so important. Especially because of the way how we started working with Dr. Ramesh. He had bad experience trying to buy a condo in Bella Vista in Daytona beach Shores. He was frustrated, and called me after he ran into my blog How To Kill The Deal...Creatively. It was a story of the failure, and it was a story of how he lost a unit he wanted to buy.

I did not know that he was the buyer on that failed deal, the Buyer that I was trying to find to help not lose the unit that he had under contract. That's why I was a bit surprised when he asked for the reference coming from a buyer like him. So, I asked my other client if Dr. Ramesh could call him (also a doctor), who just bought a condo a few months ago, and, check this, his name is also Ramesh.

Dr. Ramesh was not looking for a star guy with the most number of sales, or who was controlling listings in any of those oceanfront buildings. He was looking for an agent who would not drop the ball. He lost his unit because somebody dropped the ball. I wrote about it in $450,000-Long Story… This is a truly amazing AR story. Because of AR I was able to pick the deal where others have dropped it.

Back to Dr. Ramesh and Bhagya's comment. It was the last comment on the blog, and the world out there did not see it and share my excitement. On the other hand, if it were the first comment there, it would be more like self promotion...

It is always a fine line when you work with fine clients.