About Lakewood Ranch's Lakewood Ranch Country Club East

Here are five tips to help you identify the best Lakewood Ranch real estate agent to get your home sold as fast as possible and for the most money.

1. Hire a full-time Lakewood Ranch real estate agent. Part-time agents typically have less experience and fewer sold properties under their belts than full-time agents. Because part-time agents usually have another job, they don’t have as much time to take care of your needs and market and show your home to potential buyers. Full-time agents have bigger networks they can enlist to help find a buyer for your home.

2. Find a skilled negotiator. A seasoned Lakewood Ranch real estate agent understands the psychological nature of selling a home. They advise you during the contract negotiations to ensure that you get the best deal while alleviating your stress.

3. Pick an aggressive marketer. Without a well-implemented, far-reaching marketing program, your house will sit on the market these days. You want an agent who promotes your home both online and offline, in order to reach the greatest number of potential buyers. Simply having your home listed on Realtor.com is no longer enough of an online presence. You want your home showcased on multiple websites with a lot of professional photos and, ideally, a video tour.

4. Choose an agent who knows your neighborhood. Each neighborhood is unique. An effective agent knows your neighborhood and how to price your property. They know the local competition, which homes have closed recently similar to yours and how much they’ve sold for.

5. Ask about home staging services. If you want to sell your home for the most money in the least amount of time consider staging your home.

Choosing a powerful listing agent is your first step toward a successful home sale.

If you would like to work with an agent who is a skilled negotiator, an aggressive marketer and works full time, give Lakewood Ranch Realtor® Ellen Ferber Evans a call at 941-773-6907 or Alan Evans at 941-773-6906 or e-mail us at aevans15@tampabay.rr.com or visit our website: http://www.lakewoodranchareahomes.com

REMAX Alliance Group, 5411 University Parkway, Sarasota, Florida 34201

Single Family Home - LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL

VIRTUAL TOUR LINK : http://www.pix360tour.com/video/13309-palmers/

Magnificent Country Club Home with decadent appointments. This home offers 5 bedrooms and 4 1/2 baths. A stunning arched custom door with transom leaded glass entry. Designer Draperies. Fabulous Chandeliers and solid casted Spanish Alabaster light fixtures. Diagonal Tile and honey onyx accents on flooring. Exquisite gourmet chef's kitchen. Miele cappuccino/espresso maker, double dishwasher, 6 burner Dacor cooktop with pot filler. Spacious hidden pantry. Top of the line cabinets. Office floors are cherry wood. Sink has a foot pedal for controlling water on and off. Nutone CD Intercom, two-way fireplace from family room to bonus room. Impact... resistant Mylar on windows. Another fireplace on outside lanai. Master has 18 JETTED SPA! Expansive double head shower w/fountain views. Private Bidet. Custom closets w/ironing board. Central Vac. 2 wine refrigerators. Butler's Bar with under-cabinet Lighting. Relaxing pool & spa with a long lake view and complete summer kitchen. 2 covered lanai areas. Garage has wall-to-wall built-in cabinets. Entire house has generator and water conditioner. Exterior up lighting sets this home apart and has the utmost perfect curb appeal. Thousands of dollars in lush landscaping. Built in 2004. 3 car garage. 4,207 sq. ft.

www.jimsoda.com

941.809.7759 / 941.961.5857

donnasoda@gmail.com / sodasells@gmail.com

Gorgeous Lakewood Ranch Country Club Home.... Offer at $1,500,000

5 beds / Office / 4 1/4 baths

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itTZZE8l0Hw

www.jimsoda.com

941.809.7759 / 941.961.5857

sodasells@gmail.com / donnasoda@gmail.com

CLICK to register for our next FREE Foreclosure Options Seminar

Property Owners in Country Club East Gain Foreclosure Relief Thru Short Sales in Lakewood Ranch Florida

Many Country Club East homeowners have found foreclosure relief by making the smart choice to Short Sell their homes. In fact, property owners throughout Lakewood Ranch and Manatee County are avoiding the foreclosure trap through Short Sales.

A Short Sale occurs when a lender agrees to allow the sale of a property for less than the full mortgage balance owed. The typical Short Sale scenario involves a homeowner who for one reason or another is unable to continue to pay on their mortgage, and who are at the same time unable to sell for the amount owed due to falling property values. Without a Short Sale Approval from the lender, the home is destined for foreclosure.

Because having a foreclosure on one's financial record can have dramatic negative consequences (difficulty in renting/buying in the future, employment hiring issues, increased insurance rates, credit card cancellations, etc.) a Short Sale is clearly a better alternative from the homeowner's standpoint. Surprisingly, a Short Sale is also preferred by most lenders, thus creating the setting for a true "win-win" outcome.

Most lenders would rather Approve a Short Sale, because the foreclosure process is expensive and they'd rather avoid that cost if possible. After all, if a lender forecloses they are going to have to sell the property anyway, so by letting you sell it before foreclosing the bank actually comes out ahead of the game (they save the foreclosure costs).

While a Short Sale is generally the preferred outcome for all parties, problems can and do arise along the way that prevent Short Sale approvals.

A failed Short Sale attempt almost always ends in foreclosure, which is why it is so vitally important that you only work with an experienced and knowledgeable Short Sale Expert Team to handle your Short Sale.

In order to approve a Short Sale, lenders require very specific documentation, prepared and submitted according to very specific guidelines. A Short Sale package typically includes: a sales contract, numerous addenda to the contract, proof of buyer loan qualification and down-payment, a detailed "fair market value analysis" of the property, an analysis of local market conditions, a seller financial worksheet, seller hardship letter, photos of the property, and certain specific forms and seller financial data as may be required by your particular lender(s) -- even a small mistake can spell the difference between a successful Short Sale and Foreclosure.

If you would like to Stop Foreclosure and virtually guarantee the success of your Short Sale CLICK HERE to learn more about the SaraMana preForeclosure & Short Sale Assistance Team and our services.

RISMEDIA, January 21, 2011-Sales of existing homes and condominiums in Florida rose in December, a positive trend also reported at the close of 2010 as statewide sales activity posted gains over the previous year, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®.

A total of 15,550 existing single-family homes sold statewide in December, up 4 percent from the 14,923 homes sold in December 2009. The statewide existing home median sales price last month was $133,100; in December '09 it was $139,800 for a 5 percent decrease, according to Florida Realtors' data. However, December's statewide existing home median price was higher than the $132,700 reported in November 2010. The national median existing single-family home price was $171,300 in November, according to the latest data available from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.

In December, 12 of Florida's metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) reported higher existing home sales and 14 MSAs reported higher existing condos sales. In the year-to-year comparison for statewide existing condo sales, a total of 6,673 units changed hands last month, up 12 percent from the 5,955 condos sold in December 2009. The statewide existing condo median sales price in December was $88,100; in December '09 it was $106,700 for a 17 percent decrease. The national median existing condo price was $165,300 in November, according to NAR.

Looking back on 2010, Florida's existing home sales rose 5 percent for the year, with a total of 170,848 homes sold compared to 162,873 homes sold in 2009. Statewide existing home sales activity in 2010 also was 37.5 percent higher than 2008 statewide sales, records show.

"It's encouraging to close out the year for Florida's housing market with increased sales activity," said 2011 Florida Realtors President Patricia "Pat" S. Fitzgerald, manager/broker-associate with Illustrated Properties in Hobe Sound. "The homebuyer tax credits helped to fuel home and condo sales during the first half of 2010, while favorable affordability conditions and historically low mortgage rates continued to bring buyers into the market in the waning months of the year.

"Looking to the future, 2011 is going to be a year of opportunity for buyers and sellers," Fitzgerald added. "Industry analysts report seeing steady economic improvements, including more jobs and stronger consumer confidence, which will have a positive, stabilizing impact on the housing market."

The statewide existing home median price for 2010 was $136,500; it was $142,500 in 2009 for a 4 percent decrease. In Florida's condo market, a total of 72,050 units sold statewide in 2010, a gain of 29 percent compared to 55,900 units sold in 2009. Statewide existing condo sales activity in 2010 was up 90.6 percent over the 2008 sales level, records show. The statewide existing condo median price in 2010 was $91,300; it was $108,000 in 2009 for a 15 percent decrease.