Julie Jones

To my mind, one of the gifts of a more challenging economy is awareness. I have become aware of a positive trend in the South Florida luxury real estate market. I am curious to know how perceptive people are to this good news and if anyone else has some positive input to add. My personal sales for the first quarter of 2009 were up about 5%. Not a huge amount, I know, but when adding my $10.5M sales to Premier Estate Properties company wide sales of $93.5M, I was pleased.

Progress is still to be made even in these hard times! Real estate activity appears to be on the increase as the two offers I received on listings this week are very encouraging. I am also proud of be part of an office which has actually expanded and increased office space since January. I am planning my marketing carefully for 2009 and trying to keep expenses in line, just like so many other businesses. Most importantly, I am concentrating on being available for those sellers and buyers who are "in the market" now and determined to move forward with their real estate plans. Similarly, I am determined to be prepared as the market shifts to ensure that any good news passing my desk travels really fast! In the age of the Internet and social media, it is within all of our power to ensure speed of communications-especially good news. We all need to hear it. Who else has something good to say?

Tags: economy awareness, positive trend, luxury real estate market, good news

A previous blog of mine cited the U.S. Department of Energy in saying that Floridians spend about 20% less per person on energy than any other state in the country. One reader wondered why.

I offered an immediate response, but the question got me thinking. Why is Florida so energy conscious? I conducted some research on my sunny city of Fort Lauderdale and found the simple answer in the local Sunday paper: People actually care.

There was an entire section dedicated to actively going Green in our city. Here are a few points I found.

Community Involvement: Thrift Stores run by charities such as Faith Farms, Women In Distress, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, local hospitals and churches not only help fund their designated causes but recycle clothes, furniture, office equipment, appliances, you name it--that would otherwise clog landfills. Recycling these goods saves our resources, cuts down on shipping costs and fuel consumption, and there's no packaging involved!

City Government: Articles in the newspaper, local magazines and mailers discussed energy saving tips and detailed facts about plastics, commuting and transportation, recycling almost everything, and proper use of appliances and home accessories. The City of Fort Lauderdale is sponsoring a "Green Expo" on April 25^th in our riverside city park with entertainment, educational seminars, interactive displays and natural foods--all meant to tweak one's environmental consciousness. For more info, visit www.fortlauderdale.gov.

Local Retailers: Besides local farm stands and organic food co-ops available by word-of-mouth, more and more specialty stores are featuring organic meals and groceries, earth-friendly clothing, apparel and toys, and natural home-made soaps, body products and even furniture polishes. How-to kits for growing herbs and veggies on kitchen counter tops come in all shapes and sizes. Not only are these eco-conscious entrepreneurs creating new businesses, consumers are showing a huge attraction for these unique, Green products.

Local Builders: Especially condominium and townhome builders are integrating "Green" products to attract the savvy eco-buyers, such as bamboo flooring, solar water and pool heaters, energy efficient appliances, light bulbs and water fixtures, recycled and government approved "Green" building materials including waterway dockage materials, and energy efficient windows and doors. Each builder's individual talent creates beautiful, affordable, eco-friendly dream homes offering energy efficiency and pride of ownership.

As I find more clues to Florida's 20% reduction on energy consumption, I'll pass them on. In the meantime, can you find signs of the Green Evolution in your neck of the woods?

The National Association of Realtors reported a 30% decrease in the sale of second homes in 2008. In contrast, analysts predict long-term demand for investment and vacation residences remains favorable because of those buyers in their prime years looking for a retirement home. This may be especially the case as buyers witness the retraction in their stock portfolios and return to good old bricks and mortar in the sun!

Timing is everything. With over $1 billion of private and public sector investment in the New Fort Lauderdale Beach, I am advising clients to take advantage of the broad inventory of exciting luxury properties now, and enjoy the benefit of the beach renovation over the next two years.

Fort Lauderdale Beach has enjoyed a luxurious transformation. The brand new W, The Ritz-Carlton, Trump International Hotel and Tower, and The Atlantic Resort and Spa now grace the A1A beach front. The Hilton and the LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels have proposed a conversion of the Bahia Mar Beach Resort & Yachting Center.

So many people are discovering how exciting it is to live a vacation life-style every day. The possibility exists. Living in a tropical metropolis such as Fort Lauderdale is way too wonderful to keep secret any longer. I tell my clients, "Why not join the forward thinking of these huge names and plot your own place in the sand and sun?"

I join those who live along Fort Lauderdale Beach when they say, "Having a great time. Wish you were here."

There's no place like home.

Citizens of the Sunshine State spend less per person on energy than any other state in the country - about 20% less than the national average. Quote: US Dept of Energy

This recent quote from the US Department of Energy, along with the March announcement by Vice President Joe Biden that the Obama administration will invest over $302Million in weatherization and energy efficiency funding for Florida suggests that going "Green" is the clear and present future for real estate in Florida, nay, the country.

If you think about it, going Green will not only create a cleaner, more efficient home environment in which to enjoy our luxury Florida lifestyles, but will make us feel terrific about our living habits. In addition, the emerging businesses growing from the Green industry will create new, US-sourced jobs in the 21^st century for savvy entrepreneurs with a vision towards the future. A clean future. A green future. An economically sound future.

Those of us in real estate can visit FloridaRealtors.org/learn to find practical, cash saving ways to go Green at the office. For clients wanting to incorporate Green changes into their homes, they can visit www.floridagreebuilding.org. Also visit the Department of Energy website, www.energy.gov, and type in your zip code to find Green-focused businesses in your area, tips for renovating or building new Green space, and the classifications and codes for building with Green materials.

We, our loved ones, our clients, and our neighbors will all benefit from introducing simple Green changes such as, unplugging unused appliances, switching to cost-effective, compact fluorescent light bulbs and/or low heat lights to protect artwork and fabrics, installing energy efficient appliances, impact resistant windows and doors which save on heating/cooling costs, or requesting that your builder use salvaged building materials or code-compliant Green materials. Small steps. Steps to which we can easily adjust. After all, Going Green is not a fad, it is making our future bright.

Happy Selling!

Julie

Tags: going green in florida, energy efficient homes, green real estate, department of energy, sunshine state energy statistics, energy efficient appliances

I was prompted to write this blog in response to an email from one of the buyers I am currently working with who tells me, "Merely looking at these properties on-line leaves me with more questions than answers.". Of course, my response is to immediately work through the answers to provide the background information that these buyers need, especially in today's market, to plot a clear direction.

This simple email reinforced my opinion that the days of just emailing over a few properties and expecting to forge a relationship with a buyer are long gone. While the Internet provides all of the basic information, it truly is back to the art of salesmanship to provide the next level of data which will excite the buyer about the real estate opportunity and then provide enough of a comfort zone to encourage the buyer to view the property and see the value of the offering.

In my office, I offer waterway maps, community profiles, aerials, property tax guides, insurance resources, immigration resources, information on local schools and updated market analysis to guide buyers and provide the additional insight that is not available from the Internet. By going the extra mile and answering the questions that are not easily obtainable, I have the opportunity to build a relationship with the buyer. From there, I have the opportunity to stand out as the "Go To" broker for answers not found on the Internet.

I believe that both buyers and sellers are looking for direction from their real estate professional in terms of pricing their residence to sell or deciding whether now is the time to buy. Taking the extra time to create a relationship beyond a few quick emails helps determine these answers and brings confidence and satisfaction to all involved. This is how I believe lasting client relationships and referrals are made--just a few rewards from a job well done.

Happy Selling!

Julie Jones

julie@premierestateproperties.com