Steven Wood

I just recently asked to be excused from Jury Duty, and was allowed to be excused from Jury Duty, from my County of Record in Northern Virginia.

I am getting ready to make Florida my home, again. I was born in Florida, and it is time for me to make Florida my permanent home.

When I read the following, sent to me by a friend, I had to think long and hard about if I had my Identity Stolen... After all, I had to send proof that I was currently in Florida. The proof was my Vehicle Registration, AND, I had received a phone call from the Jury Management Office!

Please read the following, more to come...

This has been verified by the FBI (their link is also included below). Please pass this on to everyone in your email address book. It is spreading fast so be prepared should you get this call.

Most of us take those summons for jury duty seriously, but enough people skip out on their civic duty, that a new and ominous kind of fraud has surfaced.

The caller claims to be a jury coordinator. If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scam-mer asks you for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant.

Give out any of this information and bingo; your identity was just stolen.

The fraud has been reported so far in 11 states, including Oklahoma , Illinois , and Colorado This (swindle) is particularly insidious because they use intimidation over the phone to try to bully people into giving information by pretending they are with the court system.

The FBI and the federal court system have issued nationwide alerts on their web sites, warning consumers about the fraud.

Check it out here:

http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june06/jury_scams060206.htm

http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp

To this date, I believe that my Identity was not stolen. But, to help you, I am placing this notice on a Blog, so that you will be aware of the - Scum that Scam - Hard Working Folks.

Just another service I am providing current and future Clients and Customers and Associates!

Be sure to read the Post Script BELOW! Thank you,

Steven P. Wood, Realtor
Palm Coast Realty, Inc.
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410

Direct: 1-800-298-2566

eMail: Steven_P_Wood@msn.com

Web: www.homepages.com/StevenWood1
http://stevenwood.rmlsfl.mlxchange.com/
http://www.ByJoveMyHome.com/

Office: 1-800-298-2566
Fax: 561-277-4215
Cell: 703-851-6535

I am at Your Service for ALL of Your Real Estate Needs, Specializing in Jupiter, Juno Beach, Tequesta and Palm Beach Gardens !!!

PS: This scam is not as bad as the

"Let's Build New Homes in Palm Beach County and Sell the New Homes at Deep Discounts" Scam that is now going on in Palm Beach County by Home Builders.

The Home Builders are depleting the Tax Coffers because they are

1) forcing the Wealth from Current Home Owners in Palm Beach County (DO YOU OWN A HOME IN PALM BEACH COUNTY THAT IS LOSING VALUE?), and

2) forcing the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser to lower the Appraised Values of the Properties, and thus lowering the Tax Dollars being collected to support vital Public Services, such as Programs for Children in Schools, and all the other programs!

Google Palm Beach County Property Appraiser Public Access System.

As Home Prices are falling, due to 1) Over-Supply, and 2) Adding Gas to the Destructive Fire-like, Additional-Supply from New Home Builders that are deeply Discounting New Home Prices, the amount of Real Estate Taxes being collected to support the School, and other Public Systems are diminishing!

As the Citizens of Palm Beach County lose their Wealth, the Children of Palm Beach County, are losing School Programs.

IT IS TIME FOR A BUILDING MORATORIUM!

STOP BUILDING HOMES IN PALM BEACH COUNTY. WE DON'T NEED NEW HOMES HERE! WE NEED TO SELL WHAT WE HAVE! And the Same Goes for all of Florida!

PAY FOR UN-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TO THOSE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS THAT ARE OUT OF WORK!

OR BETTER YET, PAY THE UN-EMPLOYED CONSTRUCTION WORKERS TO TEAR DOWN FRAME HOMES AND BUILD TO-CODE HOMES IN THEIR PLACE! ReBuild Pahokee by Lake Okeechobee (If Lake Okeechobee was in the Deep South, there would be Resorts and Resort-like Fishing and Hunting Lodges, and support retail, and hotels there!)

I look forward to the days that our County Fathers (and PC Mothers), Supervisors, and Officials, wake up and start working for the Citizens of Palm Beach County, and Martin County, and St. Lucie County, and,,,,,

02/07/08

Hi Jerry,

Before I get into my thoughts on Real Estate Investing for Europeans, Middle Easterners, Africans, Asians, and North and South Americans:

•1) I want you to know that I cannot predict the future. I cannot tell what is around the corner, nor can I tell what affects Global or Local Events will have on the Local Economy, or on Real Estate as an Investment in the USA or Florida or Palm Beach County, etc..

•2) I was a Real Estate Agent in Virginia between 1978 and 1980, a Real Estate Investor between 2000 and 2005, and I just became a Real Estate Agent in Florida in February 2007.

•3) As an Investor, such as Donald Trump, Real Estate is still the Best Over-All Investment on Earth, but it is a Long Term Investment, with many twists and turns.

Having said all that, here are my thoughts on Real Estate Investing in the USA, particularly in Palm Beach and Martin County, Florida, for Europeans, Middle Easterners, Africans, Asians, and North and South Americans:

I will use the standard SUPPLY and DEMAND Model through-out my paper.

I will make mention of

two

self-coined terms

that will be indicative of how fast or greatly affected

Prices of Real Estate will rise or fall:

"Fast-Forward-Demand" will greatly increase Real Estate Prices, and

"Fast-Forward-Supply" will greatly decrease Real Estate Prices.

I will also use the following Analogy throughout my paper:

Let us imagine that the Real Estate Market in the USA (or in Florida) is a Portfolio and that Portfolio is represented as a Super Tanker that is underway on the ocean. Currently that Super Tanker is heading in the wrong direction (Losing value). As an Investor, one would like to have the Super Tanker going in the right direction (Holding value or Increasing value).

It takes a lot of energy to turn that Super Tanker around. The energy that will turn the Super Tanker around must overcome the energy that is keeping the Super Tanker from turning around.

First, the energy factors that are keeping the Super Tanker from turning towards the right direction:

•1) There are folks that are destitute, in severe financial crisis, and have to sell their properties at the mercy of the lenders to do "Short Sales", and if there is no mercy, then the lenders will force a sale of each property at a Foreclosure Auction, and if no one purchases the properties at the Auctions, then the properties become Non-Performing Assets of the Lenders or the Banks.

If the property is sold as a "Short Sale", then the lender usually loses less money than at the other two sales. The lender will make the first bid at the Auction (which needs to be below what the lender thinks the property is worth on the open market), and if somebody else purchases the property, then the lender loses more money than with a Short Sale, but less money that as a sale where it is described as "Bank Owned". If the property becomes bank owned then there are certain laws that might kick in and prohibit the bank from making future money. This makes the banks want to unload Bank Owned properties very quickly and that usually indicates unloading at a great discount.

This is just a short description of what is really going on, but enough to get a feel.

The affects of this phenomenon will cause a Fast-Forward-Supply

•2) There are New Home Builders that have to dump current inventory, and continue to build to unload builder-owned undeveloped property, to the select few people that are buying right now in this unknown market. The only people buying right now are those people that believe that they are buying the properties at such a discount that they will be protected from future depreciation. This is driving the market down quickly.

I think the local Towns and Counties should place a Moratorium on Building New Homes because to add a new home to the all ready over-Supplied market is like adding gasoline to a fire. But, alas, I am not a person in a position to implement such a thing.

The Builder's, themselves, are experiencing a melt down.

The affects of this phenomenon will cause a Fast-Forward-Supply

•3) There are folks that have enough money to possibly weather this correction. They are currently losing a portion of their wealth, or losing a lot of their wealth, in the real estate sector. There are a lot of folks like this. In this category, you have folks that are hoping for the correction to end.

These folks are either in denial, or have wealth enough to weather the correction.

The ones that have enough wealth to weather the correction are probably also heavily invested in many other types of investments or weren't heavily invested in real estate.

Those that are only losing a small portion of their wealth are keeping their properties, they don't care. No affect on Supply and Demand.

Those that are losing a bigger portion of their wealth have their properties on the market, but at un-sellable high prices. This has an affect on Supply and Demand, but the affect on Supply and Demand is greatly detrimental to the Real Estate Market. Almost to the tune of Fast Forward Supply!!! But they may be stalling the affect, such that those in the other categories can execute their divestment with finesse.

They care, but would rather smoke their cigars and get the price that they paid.

Those that are losing a greater portion of their wealth are either stoned, or are praying, or are hoping for it all to end before they become destitute. They do not want to lower the price of their Real Estate Properties because to do so would greatly lower their wealth, but they do lower the price so gently. These people are also allowing the same as described above...

This also has an affect on Supply and Demand, and the affect on Supply and Demand is greatly detrimental to the Real Estate Market. Again, almost to the tune of Fast Forward Supply!!! But they may be stalling the affect of Fast Forward Supply, such that those in the other categories can execute their divestment with finesse.

•4) If a recession hits, and families have to move in with each other to make ends meet, then once filled homes (renters or purchasers) will be vacating homes to super fill other homes, and thus increasing SUPPLY

Now for the good news...PITI (Principle, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance) and other items...

•1) Florida is challenging the Insurance Companies.

Search the web for a LINK under

www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents

Enter "Insurance 2008" in the box next to "Search this Site" at the top of the page.

If Insurance costs go down, investors jump in to take advantage. The affect is increase in DEMAND.

•2) Florida is changing the Tax Structure such that on Jan 29, 2008, there will be a reduction in Taxes.

Search the web for a LINK under

www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents

Enter "Tax 2008" in the box next to "Search this Site" at the top of the page.

When the cost of Real Estate Taxes goes down, investors jump in to take advantage. The affect is increase in DEMAND.

•3) The USA FED (FED = Federal Reserves) is lowering the cost of money that is used to run the Economic Machine and is used to purchase real estate, and the FED is promising more cuts.

Search the web for a LINK under

www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents

Enter "Fed Rates 2008" in the box next to "Search this Site" at the top of the page.

When the cost of Money (Principle and Interest) goes down, investors jump in to take advantage. The affect is increase in DEMAND.

•4) The Stock Market is taking a hit, and folks are moving their money to Bonds and Real Estate. The Bonds affect Mortgage Interest Rates, and Real Estate affects everybody.

Search the web for a LINK under

www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents

Enter "Stock Market 2008" in the box next to "Search this Site" at the top of the page.

When the cost of Money (Principle and Interest) goes down, investors jump in to take advantage. The affect is increase in DEMAND.

•5) The Stock Market is taking a hit, and folks are moving their money to 100% Invested in Real Estate and Precious Metals.

Who knows where all of this takes us? 100% in anything that is Important to Life is good. You owe nothing to anybody (except for the County, State, and Federal Taxes).

Search the web for a LINK under

www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents

Enter "Investments 2008" in the box next to "Search this Site" at the top of the page.

When the cost of Money (Principle and Interest) goes down, investors jump in to take advantage. The affect is increase in DEMAND.

•6) A Presidential Election is on the horizon. The Budget and Economic Future of the USA will be in the hands of a new President.

But change is slow, and with the Checks and Balances in the USA, the price per pound of who is in the President's Position, really has nothing to do with whether or not we prosper.

No affect, except for emotional affects because of change. This affect is important, but, we cannot tell where the change will go.

•7) Local Demand is UP, Scripps, Max Planck, and supporting structures such as Grocery Stores, Dry Cleaners, Restaurants, etc

Search the web for a LINK on Google,

When the DEMAND for Real Estate goes up, the Cost per Square Foot of Real Estate goes up! The affect is increase in DEMAND.

The affects of this phenomenon will cause a Fast-Forward-Demand, once Supply is down.

•8) Foreign assets. Don't underestimate the role of the foreign investor in today's market. Flush with cash and enjoying immense buying power due to a weak dollar-which will only get weaker if the Federal Reserve continues to lower rates-U.S. housing has become a hot commodity for European investors. "I happen to believe that the international markets will demonstrate a confidence in the U.S. that the U.S. isn't showing itself," says Mich of (xxx realty, just trying to protect my interests <grin>). "Miami, Fort Lauderdale...people want to live near some of the world's best beaches and fun spots in the world. We're going to see a lot of foreign buying and it's only going to continue." A survey of Florida Realtors conducted in 2007 found that foreign buyers accounted for 7.3% of all homes sales in the state-a conservative estimate, say many industry watchdogs. On the commercial side, Real Capital Analytics, Inc., which provides market data to the commercial real estate industry, says foreign investment in Florida commercial real estate has increased steadily, from just less than $948 million in 2004 to more than $1.43 billion in 2007.

So, as I mentioned in the beginning, I do not have a crystal ball; however, I do know that there are a lot of great opportunities here in Florida, Palm Beach and Martin Counties, and the Towns within, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Tequesta, etc..

I also believe that you will continue to see Great Opportunities over the course of the next 6 to 12 months.

I think that the Time is Near,

where You and Your Investor Friends,

will want to START Investing

in Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Florida.

We are like the Marbella of Spain! And at the exchange rate, GET GOING! It is time! (Be sure to hook up with smart Real Estate Agents, that know how to handle the Local Laws, the International Laws, that can speak your language, etc,,, (I can do all that, OR, I will get a translater so we can communicate effectivey)

Let me know when you are ready and what types of properties you will be interested in (Commercial, Land, or Residential / Condos, Single Family Detached, Townhomes, etc).

I am putting together a very Strong Team of Realtors, with Lots of Years of Experience, just to Service you, and your's.

Steven P. Wood, Realtor
Palm Coast Realty, Inc,
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410

Direct: 1-800-298-2566

eMail: Steven_P_Wood@msn.com

Web: www.homepages.com/StevenWood1
http://stevenwood.rmlsfl.mlxchange.com/
http://www.ByJoveMyHome.com/

Office: 1-800-298-2566
Fax: 561-277-2415
Cell: 703-851-6535

I am at Your Service for ALL of Your Real Estate Needs, Specializing in Jupiter, Juno Beach, Tequesta and Palm Beach Gardens !!!

Hi Gretchen (Name Changed),

Sorry about getting back to you so late in the evening.

Gretchen wrote to me the following:

> If we do make a bid it will be less than $290K. The offer would be
> preapproved, backed by cash, and with inspection waived. Which make it
> strong, however, If you don't think that is worth submitting due to
> being below recent comps, let me know. I do not want to waste anyones
> time.

There are 3 particular items that makes an offer STRONG in a Short Sale.

1) Price,

2) No Contingencies, and

3) Price.

There are 3 particular items that makes a Lender want to accept a Short Sale Offer.

1) How much money will be netted on a Short Sale, versus how much money will be netted on a Foreclosure,

2) How STRONG is the Short Sale Offer, and

3) How much money will be netted on a Short Sale, versus how much money will be netted on a Foreclosure.

You have Item #2, No Contingencies!

The other 2 Items, have to be addressed...Price and Price.

This is NOT a new property. This is a property in a fantastic area! The Builder has just sold a 3 story, larger unit, for a very small price (I showed you a recent Palm Beach County Property Appraisal Office Public Access System's run of all sales in the subdivision.)

In Florida, there is no Legal Requirement, by anybody, including Licensed Appraisers, Real Estate Agents, BUILDERS, Homeowners, Public/Government Servants, Experts that perform BPO's, et al., to show Seller's Concessions or Subsidies. I really am not for this practice because how can the PUBLIC, the BANKS, the LENDERS, People from out-of-town, etc., tell what the MARKET VALUE of a property IS (It all depends on what the definition of IS IS!)

Please make an Offer. Make it your BEST OFFER. And, expect a long passage of time before you get an answer back from the Lender. Don't count on your offer being accepted. Somebody else may put in a Stronger Offer!

In a Short Sale situation, nobody knows or can predict, what a Lender will accept. The Lender is the one that will make the decision on which offer Best Suits THEM.

Steven P. Wood, Realtor
Short Sale Specialist with the Short Sale Division of
Palm Coast Realty, Inc.
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410

Direct: 1-800-298-2566

eMail: Steven_P_Wood@msn.com

Web:
www.ByJoveMyHome.com
www.homepages.com/StevenWood1
http://stevenwood.rmlsfl.mlxchange.com/
http://stevenwood.point2agent.com/

Office: 1-800-298-2566
Fax: 561-277-4215
Cell: 703-851-6535

I am at Your Service for ALL of Your Real Estate Needs, Specializing in Jupiter, Juno Beach, Tequesta and Palm Beach Gardens !!!

Hello Home Owners in Palm Beach County!

I am here tonight to ask questions. To generate discussions.

These questions are not for everybody.

Just the select few that understand the questions.

Is it time to stop the sprawl? Should we implement a building moratorium?

Imagine if you will, Thousands and Thousands of empty homes, no buyers, and no renters. Wait, we don't have to imagine. We just have to drive through the different neighborhoods!

Wealth of current home owners is being stolen, by Stock Holders of New Home Builder Companies. These Stock Holders: 1) need to sell off inventory, and 2) need to sell not-yet-built homes on their empty land!

Those Stock Holders. DAMN! They WIN and they WIN.

If I owned Stocks in the Big Home Building Companies, I would Buy Long and Sell Short, Puts and Calls, Both!

OK, The Home Builders are Stealing Wealth from Home Owners. There, I said it!

In all of the previous RE Markets, the new home USUALLY sells for more than the older homes. Not TRUE in Palm Beach County (and other counties in Florida).

The New Home Builders are:

1) Taking tax dollars away from the County Governments,

2) Taking wealth from Home Owners,

3) Usurping Mortgage Company/Lender/Bank Money with each lower-ball Sale,

4) Driving America into it's 2nd Depression,

5) Paying Real Estate Agents Handsomely to help them _______ (fill in the blank) from the current Homeowners

Etc.

So, What do we do?

We Stop the Sprawl! We Implement a Building Moratorium!

1) We allow the builders to upgrade, update, rehab and/or replace properties that were built before the 1992 Code Change so that the builders can continue to work and pay their employees,

2) We allow the builders to replace properties in run down neighborhoods to make sure that poor folks and social workers can afford homes,

3) We allow the builders to restore the wealth of the Home Owners by forcing the Homebuilders to enhance and edify and rebuild, such that wealth is restored to those middle class folks that lost all their wealth becaue the Home Builders low-balled inventory homes to escape the oncoming depression/recession

4) We ask the current Palm Beach, and each of the Cities' and Towns' Administration, how they are helping the Palm Beach County Citizens

I suspect there may be repercussions. Nevertheless, As a middle of the road Republican and Real Estate Agent, I ask that you, for lack of better words, help stop the Sprawl in Florida!

Supply vs Demand --> Stop the increase in supply and the demand gets relatively stronger. (and the value gets higher)

Supply vs Demand --> Stop all future supply, and current supply becomes rare quicker!

Supply vs Demand --> Enhance the current supply by building Support structures and Anchor structures, and watch the Demand Soar!

Let's see where this blog goes, and then we may continue,,,

I am so proud to be an American and a Native Floridian!

Learn about your rights and lefts!

Check out the Maltz Theater, then take a stroll down Jupiter Beach!

Brrrr, it may be too cold. WAIT, we are not in New Hampshire!

Take a long lunch and get PUMPED UP!

Tell your Boss, tell your Neighbor,
tell the Rich, and tell the Labor,,,,

1 if by land, 2 if by sea!

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Please?

Wednesday, January 9th

Maltz Jupiter Theater - Presentation regarding January 29th ballot item on Property Tax Amendment

John Sebree, Vice President Florida Association of Realtors

will be presenting the features of the Property Tax Reform known as "Amendment One"

at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre from 11:00 a.m. - 1:30p.m.

This event is FREE and open to the public.

Go to McDonalds, get a Steak Egg and Cheese Bagle, and be

there at 10:00 AM!!!!

Seating is limited to first 300 attendees.

The event will allow for questions and responded to by Mr. Sebree.

Handouts with the exact language of the amendment.

Also, it is the only tax relief item FOR YEARS TO COME!

For more information visit: http://www.yeson1florida.com/

Steven P. Wood, Realtor
Illustrated Properties Real Estate, Inc.
300 W. Indiantown Road
Jupiter, Florida 33458

Direct: 1-800-298-2566

eMail: Steven_P_Wood@msn.com

Web: www.homepages.com/StevenWood1
http://stevenwood.rmlsfl.mlxchange.com/
http://stevenwood.point2agent.com/

Office: 561-746-0008
Fax: 561-747-5086
Cell: 703-851-6535

I am at Your Service

for ALL of Your Real Estate Needs,

Specializing in Jupiter, Juno Beach, Tequesta and Palm Beach Gardens !!!