Dear Fellow Herons Glen Friends, Neighbors, Residents and Prospective Purchasers and Tenants

Hi, Contrary to all the gloom and doom real estate market talk, several good things have happened recently:

1.)   I am proud to announce that I have recently earned that designation granted by the National Association of Realtors knows as "ACCREDITED BUYER'S REPRESENTATIVE", after having taken courses, passed tests and sold a certain number of homes representing the Buyer. This will allow me to more effectively represent the interests of Prospective Buyers.

2.) I have switched agencies and franchises.  I went from Century 21 AAIM Realty Group to RE/MAX REALTY TEAM.  RE/MAX has passed Century 21 as the largest and best-selling real estate franchise in the world and its reputation for “Outstanding Results- Outstanding Agents” is well earned- they have the real estate franchise website with the most hits, they spend more money advertising than any franchise, their philosophies and techniques are leading edge, they have weekly training meetings plus on-line webinars, - all of which will allow me to work more effectively for you!

3.)     I have earned the SRES Designation – SENIORS REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST granted by the National Association of Realtors, enabling me to work more knowledgeably and effectively on behalf of Buyers or Sellers over the age of 55.  This is an international designation with access to similar designees around the world.

4.)    I was selected by Gulf Shore Life Magazine as “FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT-TOPS IN CLIENT SATISFACTION” for the second year in a row.

5.)    My policy, installed this past winter, of providing at my expense a ONE-YEAR HOME WARRANTY, with Replacement coverage, on every home bought or sold through me, has been a big success-some of my competitors have copied it!  I buy the “upgraded” coverage which protects the washer/dryer, the garage door opener, roof leaks, pool and spa coverage if applicable, etc.

6.)    I have purchased the upgraded version of “LISTINGBOOK”, which will allow all  of my Sellers and Buyers to receive daily email reports via Multiple Listing service with pictures, of activity regarding the home they are looking to sell, new listings and price reductions of comparable homes for sale, or activity regarding homes matching the criteria of what you, as a potential Buyer are looking for, Open Houses, new listings, price changes, etc.

7.)     I have started a new aspect of my real estate business, in addition to residential home selling and renting, known as “MR. LAND”, specializing in the sale of vacant lots and acreage.  This not only capitalizes on the use of my last name in an eye and memory-catching way, but utilizes my skill as a real estate attorney for over 41 years, frequently appearing before zoning or planning boards, litigating title, foreclosure and boundary issues.

8.)    In the last 20 years of practicing Law in New Jersey I handled well over a thousand Bankruptcy cases, so I can explain and steer a seller or buyer through the pitfalls of short sales, foreclosures and bank-owned properties(REO’s).

 And, finally, a word about the current real estate market. Every day, some “expert” in the world of economics, statistics, real estate, etc. explains in the media their theory of where the market is going. Most say it will be another year or two until the market picks up, locally and nationally.  What I know is that because of an abundance of homes on the market, and plenty of mortgage availability at  low interest rates (currently 5 1/2% with talk of a government bailout at 4 1/2% maybe) with good credit and 10 or 20 per cent down, this poses an exceptional opportunity to get a good buy for a personal residence or a rental property.  Because of all the foreclosures and voluntary turn backs of property to lenders, many people are looking to rent because they lack the credit or down payment, or because they want to see where the market is going.  In Herons Glen, although prices have fallen by about one-third since the 2005 escalation (back to where they were in 2003 and 2004) we have a stable, mature real estate situation with very few foreclosures or turn backs.  I sold 14 houses and one building lot this winter, another in June, another in August, an Osprey in July in Magnolia Landing, so there are plenty of Buyers if the prices are right!

      The Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Fla. experienced the third largest increase in home sales in the country in July, selling 69.5% more homes than the preceding July! This, coupled with a spike in new home sales, an increase in consumer confidence, with traffic on the real estate website of the National Association of Realtors’ realtors.com increasing by 29%, and time spent on the website up 26% compared to one month earlier, could be signaling a real estate turnaround and a pent up demand for home purchases. None of us have a crystal ball, and we won’t know that we’ve hit rock bottom until after it has passed us, but all indications are that THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!

I do Rentals in the area and I can rent your new home out (total cost 12% commission) until you are ready to use it or the market turns around and you want to sell it.

See My Current Flyer