Casey Merriam's (cmerriam) Blog

Well, what can I say.  I'm seeing an influx of buyers considering their purchase before season.  I believe this season is going to be the craziest, busiest season of all time.  Smart buyers are obtaining properties before the mad rush of season where they may meet with competing offers upwards of...

I've attached a couple of graphs to show what I've been talking about with the influx of buyers flocking to the local marketplace.  The Naples Real Estate market is offering vacation owners, first time homebuyers and investors another shot at low pricing and great picks . The first shows the incr...

It's becoming more and more apparent to me that these banks are starting to play games with buyers.  I've noticed that many listings are coming on the market as foreclosures and priced well below market value.  Then, what I'm learning, is it seems that these banks are just collecting offers for a...

Thank God It Closed!  Another Naples First-Time Home buyer took advantage of this great buyer's market and government assistance program today.  With the Collier County SHIP Program, this buyer is now paying the same amount in a mortgage payment as she would have in rent for the same unit... BUT ...

Well, the more I'm in this business, the more I realize how much control I don't have over things and that I cannot worry about what is out of my control.  I do my best everyday, and it's so funny how things just work themselves out.  Now that I got that off my chest, on to real estate.  We got o...

Wow, the challenges among us these days just to get a deal closed can be overwhelming.  Working with First Time Homebuyers is very challenging because many of the finance institutions will not lend money without certain appliances in the home, a/c unit installed, water running to the house... it'...

Not just the weather, but the market is raining buyers and great prices.  I was talking with some agents that have been actively working with buyers, including myself, and we are seeing an extreme interest in properties below the $400k mark.  Many of our offers are competing with 2-7 other offers...

Hello SW Florida First-Time Homebuyers!  Now is such a great time to buy with such wonderful choices, great pricing, and so many programs to help you get into your first home.  I've had over 10 first-time homebuyers get government assistance for their down payment in the past year.  I'm seeing in...