Well the office continued to be buzzing with buyer activity all week. We are still seeing out of state buyers on a daily basis. We even had a walk in on Friday and even though the latest statistics say 93% of buyers are going to the internet first, we are still getting 2 or 3 walk ins a month! I am sure that is due to our highly visible and convenient location on Cape Coral Parkway! We are looking forward to another busy week and hopefully a busy Memorial Day Weekend!
The news press our local paper reported that the median price for a home in Lee County is $212,500 which is a declining of 34% since December 2005! And as expected there were only 84 building permits applied for in April less than 25% of a year ago!
There are still unbelievable deals on the market for first time home buyers and we are also starting to see activity in the upper price ranges! I spoke to 3 potential buyers over the weekend who are looking for waterfront homes between $500,000 and $800,000.
Whatever you are looking for give us a call and let one of our agents assist you with your real estate needs! If you would like to have access to our area listings please go to www.mikekelly.listingbook.com and sign up for your own account which will allow you to perform your own searches! If you need to speak to me sooner please give our office a call at 239-549-9200 or call me on my cell at 239-470-9111!
Have a great week!
Mike Kelly, Broker/Owner
Sellstate Advantage Realty,Inc. 703 Cape coral Parkway West, Cape Coral, Florida 33914
The newspapers say there is "Blood in the Streets!" The evening news says,"It is a terrible market!" The 11 o'clock news says,"Foreclosures are at record numbers!" There may be some truth to these, but as someone who is on the front lines, we are busier than we have been in a few years! There are unbelievable deals down here in Cape Coral and Ft. Myers! Prices are down to where they were in 2002 and people who were priced out of the market just a few years ago, are now able to buy!
The banks have tightened up the requirements for a mortgage, but we are writing contracts everyday for first time homebuyers as well as Baby Boomers! Just this week alone we had two properties with multiple offers, one home had 11 offers!
Inventory although still at an all time high, is declining! The deals are still there but they won't be forever! Price will once again escalate and as I told someone this morning, "You never know you are at the bottom until you miss it!" So if you are still thinking about buying in "Paradise" now is the time to buy! Whether you are looking for a waterfront home or condo or it is that first home, give us a call today! Let one of our agents find a DEAL for you!
If you would like to get access to the Multiple Listing Service and search for yourself just go to www,mikekelly.listingbook.com and request a buyers account! You will love it! You can also go to www.sellstateadvatage.com and check out our listings!
Mike Kelly, Broker/Owner Sellstate Advantage Realty, Cape Coral, Florida 239-549-9200
Today I celebrated another anniversary of the day I was born! I stopped celebrating B-Days a long time ago! My wife found it amusing to call and email everyone that I know and remind them, that today was my b-day! Because she was so thoughtful my phone started ringing at 7:45 this morning and it is now 10:00 PM and for the first time today I have been able to put my phone down for more than a few minutes! I am usually on the phone for 3 to 4 hours a day, so you can imagine what today was like!
Quite a few times today I was asked,"Why are you working on your B-day?" I actually had to stop to ponder that question and I realized that I did not feel that I was working. Oh, I am not talking about all the calls I was answering from family, friends, fellow Realtors, clients and business associates. Today I listed a property, I negotiated a sales contract and I helped a new Realtor who just signed on this week with a short sale education! When I had a few minutes I worked on some marketing with an associate and discussed our new campaign that will start next month! Never for one second did I ever feel that I was working! I truly love what I do and real estate is my passion!
It is now 10:05PM and Patti, my wife, and I are just laughing about today! What a day! Doing what I love and making a living at it while, speaking to dozens of people who have touched my life! These people all took time out of their day to call me to wish me a "Happy B-DAY!" What a lucky guy I am! This business has given me more than I ever dreamed of! I have made so many friends through this business that I never realized how many! Today was an eye opener for me! I tend to take so many things for granted and today was a wake up call!
If you are in the real estate business, making money, helping and meeting people you have the greatest "job" in the world! Never take for granted the oppurtunity that you have to change your family tree forever! If you are dreading getting up in the morning because you hate this job, but it pays the bills it is time to make a change! Life is to short to be unhappy!
Thanks Patti for your thoughfulness, and I hope to be able to repay you someday soon!!! Oh I have to stop now my phone is ringing.... What a Day!!!
Mike Kelly Broker/Owner Sellstate Advantage Realty Cape Coral, Florida 239-549-9200
I have started to see a trend in our market that is very disturbing! There seems to be agents who are beginning to tell people, what they think they want to hear, instead of the truth! I am talking specifically about listings and pricing! There were always agents who would do anything to get a listing when the market was hot, but it seemed to have stopped as the market was declining! Recently we have seen an increase in this type of activity and I guess it is because we have had an increase in buying activity and these agents are looking for sign calls! These agents are misleading these home sellers by inaccurately pricing their homes and then locking them into a listing contract with penalties for early termination! This is wrong and very unethical to say the least!
My experience has shown that agents who do business like this have no marketing or business plan and the only way to get a lead on a buyer is through a sign call! These questionable practices not only hurt the sellers but it also is a black eye for our profession. Not only do they make false promises to the sellers, but they also very rarely ever do what they say they are going to do! Then they hide behind this contract and refuse to allow the sellers to cancel without paying a fee!!
When I list a home, I never base the listing on the price. I always tell the seller, " You have 2 choices to make, first who has the plan to get your home sold and secondly at what price!" "The first question has nothing to do with the second, so can we see if I am the one who you want to list your home with and then we can talk about price!" I NEVER ask a seller to list with me because of price!
I have never taken a listing which the seller is locked in! My "Easy Exit Listing Agreement" has gotten me more business than you can imagine! I tell my sellers,"If for any reason I do not do what I said I was going to do, when I said I was going to do it you can cancel without question or penalty!" Also should my sellers circumstances change and they decide not to sell, why would I penalize them! I remember a few years back when I had an 83 year old widower who asked me to list his home because he was going to move into his new girlfriends house (she was 79). After 3 weeks he called me up and said,"I can't live with her, she is driving me crazy, so I want to cancel my listing!" He was very gracious and he asked me what he owed me! I informed him that it is my policy not to charge anything, but I did ask him for a testimonial and to tell his friends about me! I have closed 5 transactions from his referrals!
I strongly believe that honesty is always the best policy and that it is never good business to lock somebody in to a contract for your benefit! Do what you say you are going to do, when you say you are going to do it! If you do people will not cancel listing contracts! Your reputation will spread throughout your community and your business will flourish!
Mike Kelly, Broker/Owner, Sellstate Advantage Realty Cape Coral, Florida 239-549-9200
I was reading an article earlier this week that stated that over the next 4 years the largest percentage of people ever to retire in a 4 year period will occur! An then I began thinking, "Where will they go?" North Dakota-NO! Maine-NO! Tennesse-Maybe! Florida-YES!!! I live in one of the most beautiful places in this country and I sell real estate here too! I was fortunate to have found Cape Coral, Florida in 2000 and I have watched a city come to life right in front of my eyes.
Cape Coral is a boaters paradise with over 400 miles of canals many with access to the Gulf of Mexico and over 27 miles of shoreline! Our average yearly temperature does not vary more than 10 degrees, technically making it a sub tropical climate! Cape Coral is the second largest city by land mass in Florida at 114 sq. miles. much of which is still undeveloped!
If golf is your game we have over 100 courses in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties all within a very short drive. From April through December you can play just about anywhere for less than $50. When the snow birds arrive in December and until March when they head back, greens fees do go up alittle, but I have still found it less expensive than what I was accustomed to paying in the northeast.
If beaches and parks are what you are looking for Lee County is the place for you! We are a short drive from Sanibel and Captiva and Pine Island. Ft. Myers beach is a quick boat or car ride away, although in season boat is the way to go! During March we are lucky enough to have 2 major league baseball teams right in our backyard- the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins!
Cape Coral is known as "Paradise!" Our real estate market has recently declined considerably after experiencing some unhealthy appreciation over the last 5 years. We are now in a correction cycle and there are unbelievable deals available. We have recently had the distinction of being number 2 in the country in foreclosures. Many of these foreclosures are due to investors or speculators who built these homes for a quick profit and missed the market! Homes that were selling for $300,000 2 1/2 years ago are now available for $120,000!
So if you are one of those "Baby Boomers" looking for your retirement home and you want to find out why they call Cape Coral "Paradise", give me a call or go to www.mikekelly.listingbook.com and sign up for a free buyers account that will allow you to search our multiple listing service just as we do! If you want more information on Cape Coral please visit my website at www.sellstateadvantage.com.
Mike Kelly Broker/Owner Sellstate Advantage Realty Cape Coral, Fl 239-549-9200
I am the Broker/Owner of Sellstate Advantage Realty in Cape Coral, Florida. I am also the National Trainer for Sellstate Realty. "It Doesn't Cost Anymore To Hire The Best!"
I arrived in Southwest Florida in April 2000 from the Northeast. I quickly realized that an opportunity existed in this area for Real Estate Professionals with an old fashioned work ethic! I was working with an investor trying to buy waterfront homes in Cape Coral and Ft. Myers. Within a short period of time it became apparent to me that agents in this area were all on vacation! They didn't return phone calls and they didn't work nights or weekends! Having been licensed up north, I immediately applied for real estate school and scheduled the state exam and within 2 months I had obtained my brokers license. It was just about the time our real estate boom started and I was soon closing 10-15 transactions a month! Within 2 years, with my wife Patti, we opened the first Sellstate Franchise in Cape Coral, Sellstate Advantage.
I have made it a prerequisite for all agents that work with us, that customer service and dedication to your business be paramount. The success that we have experienced since 2000 is directly tied to the commitment we have made to training our agents and customer satisfaction! We only hire the best of the best and our mission statement is and has always been,"To serve, lead and inspire people who want to succeed in the real estate business!" Through our commitment to our clients that we will insure their 100% satisfaction, we have developed our company slogan," It doesn't cost anymore to hire the best!"
JOIN OUR TEAM
Sellstate Agent Asset DevelopmentTM Program
Simple: Earn a 5% sponsoring bonus for every agent recruited.
Long Term: Receive monthly income for life, even if you retire from the business.
Unlimited Potential: There are no limitations. The more agents you recruit the more sponsoring bonuses you will collect.
Instant: Unlike a retirement plan, you'll begin collecting your sponsoring bonuses immediately.
Company Wide: Recruit agents for any office nationwide an continue to earn even if you move to another Sellstate office.
No Limits - Monthly Income For Life - Call 239-549-9200
I hold the distinction of being the first Sellstate agent and I am very proud of that. Having been with Sellstate since their inception, I have seen our company explode! Our growth and our success are no accident. I have been trained by some of the top trainers in our industry and one in particular, Neil Cresswell. Neil is the founder of Sellstate and my mentor. What Neil has shared with me, I now share with every agent in the Sellstate family as the National Trainer. At Sellstate we know what it takes to be successful and we train our agents daily to be the best! There is no reason to reinvent the wheel, just implement what we already know works! I tell agents everyday that to be successful takes hard work, there are no shortcuts and there are no secrets! I will share everything I know, the question is, will you do it? "Everyone knows what they want out of life, however most are not willing to pay the price!" Sellstate agents pay the price everyday! When you decide to work with a Sellstate agent and in particular a Sellstate Advantage agent you can be sure you are working with the vey best!
About The Area
CAPE CORAL & THE SW FLORIDA AREA
Cape Coral is located in Lee County in Southwest Florida. Nearby cities include, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, Naples, Bonita Springs in Collier County.
Properties in these areas can be viewed through our website. One of the most attractive features of Cape Coral is the terrific year-round weather. What could be better than 335 days of bright sunshine?!?! The city receives about 53 inches of rain a year, between the months of May through September, and usually the storms are mid to late afternoon, you can still enjoy all outdoor activities in the morning!
"The Advantage team sold my home for 98% of the asking price after 2 other companies wasted a year of my time! Great job!"- Reiko Hall
"Mike Kelly and his team took all of the headaches out of the home buying process, by handling all of the details for us. They are truly professionals and I would recommend them to everyone!"- Patrick Devlin
"Real Estate schools only teach you how to pass the State Exam. Mike Kelly at Sellstate Advantage offers thorough and continuous training which paves the way for you to become a Real Estate professional"- Marie Marro, Agent
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