Jose Lopez

Florida has been on the leading edge of foreclosures nationally, and Sarasota County has been one of the top areas in Florida from the start. Right now almost 40-50% of the properties on the MLS are either Foreclosure, Short Sale, or seriously upside down and could lead to foreclosure. When I look at the real estate agents that are the busiest these days, they are all dealing with the foreclosure mess in one way or another.

It is surprising how the market has turned in the last couple of years. We went from believing that real estate would reach the moon, to standing in a corner beggin for offers on our listings. There have been many companies that have bottomed out, and thousands of agents, just in our region. It is incredible the effect that housing has on our economy. You would have tought that it would be real estate agents, mortgage broker and builders, but it extends far beyond that. Look around and just about EVERY business has been affected directly or indirectly by the slow down. But Florida has always been popular, and Sarasota an international destination.

I have personally seen more and more people coming back into the market. These were the same people that were staying away due to the high prices of the past. But the Sarasota Florida foreclosures are driving these people back in record numbers. That is why I think that 2009 is going to be one of the best years ever when it comes to real estate sales, specially for those agents that deal in the foreclosure properties.

Jose Lopez
I specialize in Sarasota Florida Foreclosures and Bradenton Foreclosures

Which Keywords would you like to go after? This is a predicament that we all find ourselves in. Of course, we all want to chase the BIG ONES, like "(city) real estate" or "(city) Homes". But are you wasting your time and money in chasing after them?? Would it be better to go after others?? Let's think about it for a bit....

The reason why we are chasing the big keywords is because they have the highest level of traffic. So it goes to reason, if you can place in the first page of Google for one of those keywords you are golden right?? Not unless you are willing to work hard and spend money, to keep yourself there. So what is the other option? What about chasing keywords that have a good level of traffic, without the added competion from other sites? For example, instead of chasing "city real estate", you can chase "real estate (city)". Although the first will most likely have the highest traffic, the second will still give you reasonable traffic, without the added competition.

The first thing to do is to find the proper keywords. I use a Google Adwords account that allows me to see the traffic and competition on keywords, This lets me focus my energy, time and money only on those keywords that are RELEVANT to my site, have good traffic, and less competition. This will let you sleep at night, and you will not have to check your location on Google every five minutes. Happy hunting everyone!!

Jose Lopez
I specialize in Sarasota Florida Foreclosures and Bradenton Foreclosures

This the season, FOR FORECLOSURES. Wow, we just wrote a contract today on a unit that sold a year and a half ago for $460k. The offer is for $155k. It is a short sale so the bank is eating some of the loss and the owner of the property is bringing cash to the table.

These are the types of deals found in Sarasota Florida Foreclosures. However, you have to make sure that you work with a knowledgeable agent. Agents have to be really in tune with the market these days to sure they understand where the best deals are for their clients. With so much inventory, it is imperative that agents try to focus on segments of the market instead of trying to be everything to everyone. Florida is well known as one of the hot spots for foreclosures in the country. But Sarasota was at the epicenter of appreciation, and now is at the bullseye of the decline.

However, what we are seeing is that people that were staying away from the market are being drawn back by the foreclosures. The deals are awesome and people are taking advantage. Foreclosures and short sales are the way to go these days. In short sales you need a lot of patience in waiting for the bank to respond to offers. Most agents do not like to work them because they are time consuming and after months of work, you do not know if you will get paid by the bank. But wait, this is where a good agent will come in because they will be in tune with the market and able to direct you to the best deals around.

Jose Lopez
I specialize in Sarasota Foreclosures and Bradenton Foreclosures

I had a sit down with someone a couple of weeks ago to review my business plan for 2009. Now I should tell you that I am not much of an expert when it comes to business plans. But after 10 years in the business, I figure it was time to write one. This person is very knowledgeable and I have the highest respect for him. But the plan that I wrote was a little, shall we say, aggressive for 2009.

You see I have been mentally out of the business for the last couple of years and my production has been virtually zero. I am back on my feet and ready to go and plan to do $10 Million in 2009. To go from zero to $10 Million I agree is quite a stretch. However, I have done more than that before, and I feel I have the pieces in place to do 10 in 2009. My friend was very concerned about hurting my feelings, and make it clear he was not there "to burst anybody's bubble", and was there to inject some "reality" into my goals. He suggested that I "take what the market gives me".

Think about it, you should take "what the market gives you." What this implies is that if the market goes down, then we should adjust our goals downwards to allow for what the market gives you. Well, I said to my friend, that same way of thinking is what lead me to zero production the last couple of years. I am ready to take it to the market, rather than taking what the market gives me.

Rather than adjusting our goals downwards, I think we should be more productive, more focused, more efficient, and of course work harder. It is true that we should look at the market and "take what it gives us". But should we settle for that? No.

As Gary Keller says in his new book SHIFT, "Success never comes to the chosen few, but the few who choose. These can be the worst of times; these can be the best of times. YOU get to choose."

2009 is the time to take it to the market! Happy selling to all!!

Jose Lopez
I specilize in Sarasota Foreclosures and Bradenton Foreclosures

It is clear that foreclosures are leading the way and setting prcing bottoms. But with foreclosures continuing to pile up, does not mean that future foreclosures will reset a new bottom? I think that we are in for an interesting time and in 2009. I am curious to see what the government will do to try to help homeowners that are in the brink of foreclosure. Working on getting the reduced will help to bring more buyers to the table, but it will not help the people facing foreclosure. So either the government does something else for them, or this foreclosure market is extended into at least through 2009.

So tighten your belts and get to work!! Forecloures is not a happy market to be in, but it IS the market right now. The sooner we face that, the better we will do in 2009.

The rates this week went down to 4.87%. Wow!! Great news. But is it really the answer to this market? Will it spark sales enough so that the increase number of buyers will cause the prices to stabilize?

Jose Lopez
Sarasota Foreclosures