The housing market seems to be in turmoil, but is it really? In any kind of economic market, investors figure out how to get the most money back from their investment. They can invest in anything from cash to stocks to whatever.
It seems to me that the best market right now is residential housing. Interest rates are very, very low and housing prices have not been lower in years. This may not be the case for short term investing, but if you can live in your purchase or rent it out, you are in the driver's seat.
Whether you wait to buy or not, at some time in the future you are going to want to live in Southwest Florida. Especially in Naples or Bonita Springs. People always say that if they only bought back then. Well, this is then. If you wait maybe you lose the advantage of low interest rates, but what is a fact is that you will definitely lose the house that you really want. There is only one of those. In your heart of hearts you can feel it. Go for it . You won't regret it.
As a matter of fact, write down my address. You will probably want to send me a bottle of "Johnny Walker Blue Label" each year on the anniversary of your purchase.
I ran into a situation yesterday that I thought was interesting, also disturbing.
A person in my Keller Williams real estate office, that I shall call Spud, looked in the MLS and noticed that a listing that he previously had, was gotten by another agent, that I shall call Gladys, from another office, right after the listing had expired. This is annoying enough, especially after asking the seller to lower his price many times and he does it now with the new agent.
But lest I degress, Gladys used all of Spud's marketing pictures of the house with the new listing. Now, Spud was taken back, because at Keller Williams, we take new pictures of our new listings. Sometimes we take new pictures for a renewal of the listing and if we used another agent's pictures or verbiage, it would arouse an instant discussion.
Well,Spud called Gladys and after some preliminary chit-chat , Spud asked Gladys not to use his pictures.After hanging up, it seems that Gladys thought about it , and asked her boss and the company attorney, if she had done anything wrong. Supposedly, the answer was that if the pictures weren't copy write, Gladys could use the pictures. Cut and dry? Black and white? I don't think so.
This opens the door as to how far the less artistic, the less talented, and the lazy, can go to ride on the shoulders of the people who have pride in what they do and what they hope to accomplish by taking their own pictures, or whatever else they do to become successful in these challenging times.
After Spud calms done, he will do what he has always done. He will have a bourbon and water, he will be respected by his peers, he will carry on in his own fashion. Even if he is one of those dreaded Boston Red Sox fans.
In my travels around Naples, Bonita Springs, and Estero happy hours, there is one that stands out. Bice´ in Coconut Point. Whoever makes up the marketing program is right on the money.
When I was living and playing in Manhattan, no matter where I roamed each evening, there was always a place that stood out as my refuge. Since I was not going to return to Boodle's Cafe, my own place on 77th street and 1st ave., I would go to Elaine's, which was only a short cab ride from my apartment. The attraction was the other patrons. Many of which were famous. But that is another story.
My point is that there is a reason why Bice´ is the happy hour to go to, and it is not only that the appetizers and drinks are ½ priced from 3 to 7.The employees are happy to give you the discount. In some bars, many customers feel that the discount is given begrudgingly by the help, and that this attitude comes from management. It is a very uncomfortable feeling, felt by all parties.
Usually the prices are part of marketing costs, and when done right it is very effective. Case in point.
If anyone wants to open or manage a restaurant I can find you a location, give the servers the right attitude, and show them how to make money for themselves and their employers.
When opening a restaurant you start at A and go to Z, and that is before you put in a penny. Or you can go broke.
I was riding around Naples and Bonita Springs yesterday and I was noticing how many businesses were closing their doors. The high season is over and if a business can't make it in season, why prolong the agony.
I was mostly interested in the restaurants that are gone, since that was my career in a past life. I owned and managed restaurants in New York city and northern New Jersey. I began to notice that the places that shut down had certain things in common, besides a lack of customers. Their menus were outdated. They were tired looking and shabby. Not necessarily dirty, but just old. But mostly they just weren't good enough.
Restaurants that focus on pizza, and comfort type food for instance, have to look at their new competition Everybody has their favorite style of pizza or tomato gravy . ZA-ZA, Capri, California Kitchens, are all places with good ideas, good food and brand new. People will try these places. If their old haunts are better they will return to them . Aldo's, Aurelios, Gatsby,s and Moravella's are these types of places. They are good enough. They are excellent neighborhood restaurants. I don't have the time or gas money to travel across the county to get to these places, but if I even go near one of them, I need a pizza fix and my car goes on auto pilot right into the driveway.
Of course some restaurnt owners just get old and tired, like me , or they lose the drive needed to sustain a first class operation. You have to be very good and stay that way if you want to be a contender.
I have said my piece and I am sticking to it .
The Kaloostian Real Estate Report
A reasonable view from an experienced real estate consultant on local real estate conditions in Southwest Florida
I don't understand all of the negative press that Southwest Florida is getting. You would think that every citizen of this wonderful part of the great state of Florida has had enough of the terrible hardships that we have to endure and are moving somewhere else. What hardships? We can play golf or tennis almost every day of the year. We have lazy days to go to the beach and endless days to enjoy with our children and grandchildren.
The only problem that sellers have is waiting for the next wave of buyers to realize that there are many sellers that are willing to negotiate a fair price for their properties.
The only people that I meet are selling for personal reasons. They want to downsize or upgrade to a larger home. Maybe move to a golfing or boating community or to be closer to friends or relatives across town.
For many years Florida has been the go-to state for anyone who wanted more days of fair weather, a warmer climate and to be close to water. Nothing has changed. More people wanted to buy than to sell their property and we got into a seller's market. Now we are in a buyer's market. Did you hear that buyers?
It is your time to pick the palace is of your dreams at a fair price. Mortgage money is available, rates are low, and every conceivable location, size, and price is waiting for you.
Some developers are giving free up-grades, discounts, free maintenance, and many other freebies on new construction that were non-existent a year ago.
If you are waiting for the bottom to fall out of this current market, don't! That situation may have already come and gone. The best choices are available now. Maybe prices will get slightly lower, but you will make up for it with the lowest mortgage rates in years and you will get your dream home. The Professional real estate agents are continually listing properties at realistic prices and are getting approved buyers to make fair offers.
If you waiting to buy a second home or if you want to relocate, Now is the time to buy.
John Kaloostian has been in the real estate business in New Jersey for many years and has been in the Naples, Bonita Springs area for the past seven years. He is now a real estate consultant and sales agent with Keller William Elite Realty in Bonita Springs. According to John, they would have to drag him kicking and screaming to get him away from the Bonita Springs, Naples area.,
Http://www.SWFloridaShortSales.com
I have worked and lived in Southwest Florida for 7 years. I came from the metropolitan area of New york City and owning successful restaurants made me a service fanatic. Failure is not an option.
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