Karen Monsour,REALTOR® Broward,Palm Beach,Miami/Dade! 954-464-4194 anytime!

The current market is those who can buy between $200K and $350K. Most of the people are renters with a little cash in the bank looking for great deals in the current market. They (unfortunately) do not understand what the taxes and insurance do to their payments. They don't understand that for a $240,000. home with the additional costs of owning a home their payments are at least $2000. per month, that's with a good credit score and some seasoned money and a down payment.

Scary that in some cases that the taxes and insurance are almost as much as the mortgage payment. Mortgage insurance (without a large downpayment) is also a shock!

What do you do? What do you say? Buyer's are still scared of the market, but with an above average Mortgage Broker, you can make the deal happen if they have some money in the bank and have documented income.

What are the rest of you seeing in this market?

http://www.KarenMonsour.com, call 954-464-4194, anytime.

Let's keep a positive attitude for 2008. I have had a lot of FSBO conversions. I sold the first one I listed in just 7 days.

The market, at least in South Florida is booming...not with leaps and bounds, but there are people here looking for a good deal and there are plenty. I'm not even talking about the short sales and fore-closures. I'm talking about easy sales...

Yes, it is season in South Florida, get out there and talk to people.

The internet is great, but people still want face to face contact, they want to see you, bond with you, see if they can trust you. The internet is IMPERSONAL...it's so easy to ignore an email. BUT, if you bond with the person, they see your sincerity, they like you...you will have a new customer.

GO GET THEM! DON'T GIVE UP! WORK IT! YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE CUSTOMERS, THEY CAN'T FIND YOU IF YOUR SITTING AT HOME ON YOUR COMPUTER!

GOOD LUCK, GOOD SELLING, HAVE A GREAT 2008! Positive attitudes exude SUCCESS! AND MY FRIENDS, DON'T YOU FORGET IT!

http://www.KarenMonsour.com, call 954-464-4194 anytime!

What is selling in South Florida are home's and condo's between $200 and $350 thousand dollars...

Some are new home buyer's, some are people just looking for winter homes. Fortunately, the snow birds are here right now and there are active buyers. These people are friendly, looking for family or friends and are looking for a great deal. There are plenty of fabulous deals right now...with situations...

I mean, I have shown many properties on the Intracoastal, inexpensive, need updating. I mean to say, they still have the shag carpeting from the early 1970's...with rake included...space...1600 sq. ft.

The wall paper is flowered with the "Flower Power" of the early 70's...it's hilarious what antiques are left in the units...HOWEVER..THEY ARE GREAT BUY'S...1600 sq. ft. need new kitchens/bath's...new floors...but great buy's...I mean come on now... 7th floor, even a few Penthouses..View's of the ocean and the Intracoastal...or views of the Intracoastal with a 2 block walk to the beach...need's work but worth the view...

I mean if you want a South Florida condo and you can do some work...the unit's are there...

Call me...954-464-4194, or http://www.KarenMonsour.com for some fabulous deals!

I am so busy right now, I had to make myself take a day off...

Yes I said, I'm busy. I went to show one of my listing's Monday at a condo and had two people come out and say..."Are you a Realtor?" They also said to me, "Where did all the Realtor's(R) go?" I said, "Yes, of course., and for the second question, I don't know!" They each told me their specifics and I made appointments with each of them to come back and help them later in the week.

While I was standing there with my customer, I had two other cars stop buy and ask for my card as well. The street I was on and where my first listing is located is prime Intracoastal waterways and a fabulous view. There are so many inexpensive properties, even up to the penthouse at around $300,000. Yes they need updated, but they are quite large for 2/2's in Florida, 2 blocks from the beach with fabulous views. Great deals...

So, between the 7 new customers I met at my listing Monday, and several customer's who just called and decided the bottom's up and they need to hurry and buy, MY PULSE IS RACING!

Statistically, the South according to the NAR is up 2.7% - is that all? I had to make myself take one day off to go to the grocery story, do laundry, tend to my house...

Now, I just hope all these anxious people - other than the 3 cash buyers, have saved some cash and they can qualify...seems to me as though they will be able to, but...who knows...

I still think in the long run the banks will have a surplus amount of money to lend in the long term...

How are all you RE agents, and mortgage people feeling about this...

Lub dub, Lub dub...heart's still tickin' and the heart is racin'....anticipation...I guess...LOL ?-)

http://www.karenmonsour.com, cell anytime 954-464-4194

Most of the time change is good, if it is for the best, in other words positive. We as an AR community to continue to think positive as that is the way of the future for us. We Active Rain members are the voice of Real Estate. We are a NEW (2008) BEGINNING! WE Active Rain member's ARE THE VOICE OF REAL ESTATE.

WHY, YOU ASK DO I SAY THIS? I say this because, the best of the best are here.There are some absolutely fantastic agents, mortgage (lenders, brokers), and other's who post blogs here. There is more astute information posted here than any other Real Estate site on the Internet.

All of this current information makes us a strong force. It makes us credible. It makes us a sorority/fraternity of sorts...we have a bond.

We, as the survivors of this current market need to encourage a positive real estate market. We need to be the strong force. We need to be positive.

Our market in Florida is changing. I had my busiest day ever yesterday...those people said to me, "Are there any real estate agents left?" "Are you an agent?" I said, "Yes, I can help you!" Three listings later, and 4 buyers later...I feel like the customers who have been waiting for change are tired of waiting. However, the customer's I met, have cash...and they are not waiting.

The change of tides...what do you see in your market?

http://www.KarenMonsour.com, cell 954-464-4194