Palmetto Bay | Redland Real Estate | Maggie Dokic

Dear Two-Timing Tina,

Thanks for being unfaithful to me. I'm not angry. Instead, I'm thrilled. Why would I be thrilled to find out that you were seeing another REALTOR® behind my back? Because it was the epiphany I needed.

You see, I've known for a very long time that I should be working only with buyers who sign an exclusive buyer brokerage agreement. But I had grown complacent and kept putting it off. Getting buyers to sign these requires that I make adjustments to my routine. It requires some effort. I have to show my prospective buyers the benefits they will gain by working with only me. In order to accomplish this, they need to come into my office for a complimentary buyer consultation.

I've been so busy that instead of scheduling the free consultation when a new buyer called me, I would just get the property details and schedule a showing. Deep down I knew this was not the way it should be. But I kept telling myself I was too busy to do it otherwise.

Then you came along. Asking to see an $80,000 foreclosed home. The fact that this is well below what I usually work did not matter. You had a need and I wanted to fill it. So I picked up HUD keys, printed detail reports, drove by neighborhoods to check them out for you and reported back to you diligently.

For one reason or another, we were not able to meet face-to-face for 10 days or so. But I continued my diligent work for you. We spoke on the phone, texted back and forth, and stayed in touch . All seemed well.

Then yesterday I confirmed our appointment, gathered the documents and set out for our first F2F meeting. I arrived at the property to see that another REALTOR® was there showing it to his client. I said hello to them and waited for your arrival. After 10 minutes I decided to call and make sure you were not lost. I put two and two together when the other agent's client reached in her pocked for her ringing phone.

She was you!

You were her!

You looked over at me and asked, "oh, is that you calling me?" Was that when it hit you that you had scheduled appointments with two agents at the same house, at the same time? I've known two-timers before, but this was my first dealing with one with a faulty scheduling system.

I don't think my surprise showed on my face. And my well chosen words were not rude, although after leaving, I thought about it and chastised myself for not giving you a good talking-to. You needed to know what you did was wrong. But that didn't matter to me at the time.

What did matter was that your actions pushed me to making a realization which will serve me well in the future. You were the straw that broke the camel's back. I am no longer working with buyers who don't come to my office for our consultation and sign the buyer brokerage agreement. No ifs, ands, or buts.

Please continue on your merry way and know that our brief encounter fared me well. And the next buyer who calls me will know all the wonderful things he'll be gaining by working with me exclusively. Because I will make sure I tell him.

Yours truly,

No longer your agent.

I'm so tired of the greed. Everyone needs to make a living. But charging fees to a client that isn't your own because your client is not paying it, is WRONG.

I have a buyer who's been looking at foreclosures. Today we found one he'd like to make an offer on. When I saw who the listing agent is, I cringed. I've dealt with them before. They're the kind that stipulate in the Broker's Remarks : DO NOT CALL OUR OFFICE TO FIND OUT IF YOUR OFFER WAS RECEIVED. Gee, I thought that's what offices, phones and staff were for; to provide customer service.

Anyway, that's not my beef with them today. When I looked further in the remarks it states that the buyer "must pay a $325 compliance fee for maintaining records and files." The only reason they are charging my buyer this is because their seller won't pay it to them!

My buyer is already agreeing to pay my brokerage firm our administrative charge. Why should he get hit with a double whammy and have to pay the seller's side of the listing office fee because the seller refuses to pay it?

By the way, we've been on the other side of this as well and we do NOT charge buyers of our REO listings our administrative fee even though the seller (bank) is not paying us. We waive it because it's the right thing to do. The seller is sending many listings our way, and we are going to show them our appreciation for those listings by charging our administrative fee to the buyer?! No. That would be wrong.

Maggie Dokic is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Florida selling residential real estate in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables, Gables by the Sea, High Pines and the Redland.

For more information on our local real estate market, or to see or sell a home in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables or the Redland, visit my Miami Real Estate blog or contact me at Maggie (at) TheBlogThatAteMiami (dot) com.

The opinions expressed herein, are those of the author, and not necessarily of EWM Realtors.

Have you been looking at foreclosures in Palmetto Bay? Here's the latest home listings in the foreclosure sector.

Palmetto Bay foreclosures are a great way to get a good deal on a home in the area. Of course, inspections are in order, as in any home purchase. Just because you're buying AS IS, as most foreclosures are sold, doesn't mean you can't perform an inspection.

As of today there are 228 single family homes for sale in Palmetto Bay. Of those, 21 are foreclosures. Of those 21, I am providing a link to the 16 that I feel represent the best value. Click on the picture below for more details.

This is a live link, which means that as soon as information is updated on the multiple listing service, you will see the updates here also. That includes the addition of pictures if there are none now.

Maggie Dokic is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Florida selling residential real estate in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables, Gables by the Sea, High Pines and the Redland.

For more information on our local real estate market, or to see or sell a home in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables or the Redland, visit my Miami Real Estate blog or contact me at Maggie (at) TheBlogThatAteMiami (dot) com.

The opinions expressed herein, are those of the author, and not necessarily of EWM Realtors.

The city of Coral Gables is hosting it's 9th annual "jazztronomical arts festival" this weekend. If you've never experienced it, you're missing out!

The Carnaval on the Mile is well regarded as a fun time for all and a premiere showcase of Latin Jazz. The event takes place on the famed Miracle Mile in Coral Gables the first weekend in March. Miracle Mile is the mile from LeJeune Road to Douglas Road on what would otherwise be Coral Way. It's a mile long walk of exclusive shops, restaurants, cafes, the Miracle Mile Theater and more.

There's plenty for the family to do starting Friday, March 6th and the activities continue on Saturday and Sunday. Art displays, sculptures, crafts, lots of food and drinks and lots of live performances all weekend long.

The event is free as are all the performances.

Wear comfy shoes and get ready to shake el eskeleto!

Maggie Dokic is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Florida selling residential real estate in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables, Gables by the Sea, High Pines and the Redland.

For more information on our local real estate market, or to see or sell a home in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables or the Redland, visit my Miami Real Estate blog or contact me at Maggie (at) TheBlogThatAteMiami (dot) com.

The opinions expressed herein, are those of the author, and not necessarily of EWM Realtors.

Miami home sales have increased since last year. Property values have gone down, yes, but the number of sales are up. This, in my opinion, is due to the fact that the prices are too good to pass up and home buyers are realizing that. Add to that the fact that mortgage rates are at an all time low and you have a win-win situation.

The above chart shows the upward trend in home sales in Miami-Dade County. The numbers reflect single family homes only. Condos and townhomes were not included.

Maggie Dokic is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Florida selling residential real estate in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables, Gables by the Sea, High Pines and the Redland.

For more information on our local real estate market, or to see or sell a home in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables or the Redland, visit my Miami Real Estate blog or contact me at Maggie (at) TheBlogThatAteMiami (dot) com.

The opinions expressed herein, are those of the author, and not necessarily of EWM Realtors.