If you're looking for a Lakewood Ranch area home for sale and you've never bought a home before, you might think, "This won't take much time." Typically, just the opposite is true. Buying a home frequently takes quite a bit of time.   Of course, the whole home buying process will go much faster (and smoother) if you do things the right way. If you're a first time buyer looking for a Lakewood Ranch area home for sale, take some lessons from the pros. The following tips will help make the buying process fly: Weigh the Benefits - Before you actually go house hunting, weigh the pros and cons of buying a home. Can you really afford this home? Is it a good idea, or are you caving under pressure from family and friends. Make sure that you've actually considered the alternatives and decided hom... 02/12/2011

Why Short Sale? – FREE information on Foreclosure Defense, Mortgage Modification, Tax Consequences, Deed-in-lieu-of-foreclosure, Short Sales, Deficiency Judgments, Bankruptcy Referrals & more. John Michailidis, SaraMana Properties  – Phone: (941) 822-5221   CLICK to register for our next FREE Foreclosure Options Seminar   Advantages of Short Sale vs. Foreclosure Chosen By Homeowners in Miramar Community at The Country Club of Lakewood Ranch Florida   Many area property owners find themselves shaking their heads and wondering what to do. Few anticipated the mortgage crisis, or the impact it would have on the local real estate prices, including those in Miramar at the Country Club of Lakewood Ranch.In a curious turn of events, both homeowners and lenders alike are choosing Short Sales vs.... 02/11/2011

Why Short Sale? – FREE information on Foreclosure Defense, Mortgage Modification, Tax Consequences, Deed-in-lieu-of-foreclosure, Short Sales, Deficiency Judgments, Bankruptcy Referrals & more. John Michailidis, SaraMana Properties  – Phone: (941) 822-5221   CLICK to register for our next FREE Foreclosure Options Seminar   Benefits of Short Sale vs. Foreclosure Offered to Lismore Residents at The Country Club of Lakewood Ranch in Bradenton Florida Bailouts, HAMP's, HAFA's, TARP's -- these are all vain attempts to fix what the politicians and bankers have caused. Of course, I'm talking about the national mortgage crisis that is affecting Lismore homeowners at the Country Club in Lakewood Ranch just as it is everyone else. Truthfully, the housing mess is here to stay . . . for at least the... 02/11/2011

Why Short Sale? – FREE information on Foreclosure Defense, Mortgage Modification, Tax Consequences, Deed-in-lieu-of-foreclosure, Short Sales, Deficiency Judgments, Bankruptcy Referrals & more. John Michailidis, SaraMana Properties  – Phone: (941) 822-5221   CLICK to register for our next FREE Foreclosure Options Seminar   Thornhill at the Country Club of Lakewood Ranch Residents Find Foreclosure Alternative Thru Short Sale in Bradenton Florida   Foreclosures and Short Sales have become a part of the everyday reality of Thornhill homeowners at the Country Club of Lakewood Ranch.  Of all Foreclosure Alternatives, Short Sales are proving to be the most practical for area residents.Lenders are embracing Short Sales, because they find them to be a more efficient means of dealing with the unp... 02/10/2011

  CLICK to register for our next FREE Foreclosure Options Seminar   Stone Ridge Property Owners Find Better Choice Is Short Sale When Confronting Florida Foreclosure at the Country Club of Lakewood Ranch Stone Ridge homeowners are confronting the same issues that other Country Club at Lakewood Ranch owners in Manatee County Florida are struggling with, "Is a Short Sale really a better choice than simply allowing the property to go to foreclosure?" While you certainly must consider your personal circumstances in answering this question for yourself, as a general rule it can be said that a Short Sale is far superior to a Foreclosure for a whole host of reasons. That said, the two reasons that stand out for most property owners facing Foreclosure are: Far less damage to one's personal cre... 02/10/2011

CLICK to register for our next FREE Foreclosure Options Seminar   Greystone at the Country Club of Lakewood Ranch Homeowners Find Short Sale Choice Best When Facing Florida Foreclosure Many homeowners facing Foreclosure are looking for answers.  Many aren't sure of exactly what a Short Sale is, nor how it is a better choice than just letting their property go into Foreclosure -- Greystone property owners are no different than others facing these same issues. While there are many, these are the three primary reasons why a Short sale may be your best choice when facing a Florida Foreclosure: A Foreclosure greatly damages your credit -- much more so than a Short Sale. You can qualify for a new mortgage in as little as 24-months after a Short Sale, but in as much as 7+ years after a Forecl... 02/10/2011

Search ALL Lakewood Ranch Florida Banked Owned, REO, Foreclosure & Short Sale homes for sale by clicking on image above. About John Michailidis John Michailidis, broker/owner of SaraMana Properties and the SaraMana pre-Foreclosure Assistance Team is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago (Juris Doctor), a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), and Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI) who began his real estate career in 1990. Mr. Michailidis is also a nationally recognized author on real estate related topics with many articles to his credit, and the WealthLoop Series book, "Beginner's Guide to Building Wealth Buying Houses.". He an be contacted at 941-822-5221. 02/08/2011

REALTORS Praise FHFA for Proposed Rule to Prohibit Private Transfer Fees RISMEDIA, February 7, 2011-The National Association of REALTORS® applauds the Federal Housing Finance Agency for moving ahead with a proposed rule to restrict government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks from investing in mortgages encumbered by private transfer fee covenants. NAR has long been vocal in its opposition to private transfer fees, which are often attached to a property by developers and require payment of fees back to the developer each time the property is resold; the covenants can be difficult to reverse and may be attached to a deed for up to 99 years. "As the leading advocate for homeownership, we commend FHFA for the proposed rule to ban private tr... 02/07/2011

Simple Tips to Get Your Home Ready for the Spring Selling Season RISMEDIA, February 7, 2011-While it may feel like winter is never going to end, with each passing day, spring is getting closer. And now is the perfect time to get your home in selling condition. Dan Steward, president of Pillar to Post Professional Home Inspections offers his advice on why now is the best time to get your home market ready.Dan StewardPresidentPillar to Post Professional Home Inspectionswww.pillartopost.comLast October, something quietly hopeful happened: the Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator, rose 10.4% to 89.3 based on contracts signed in October (up from 80.9 in September), according to the National Association of REALTORS®. It didn't mean real estate was entirely out of the woods-th... 02/07/2011

Single Family Home - LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL VIRTUAL TOUR LINK :  http://www.pix360tour.com/video/13309-palmers/ Magnificent Country Club Home with decadent appointments. This home offers 5 bedrooms and 4 1/2 baths. A stunning arched custom door with transom leaded glass entry. Designer Draperies. Fabulous Chandeliers and solid casted Spanish Alabaster light fixtures. Diagonal Tile and honey onyx accents on flooring. Exquisite gourmet chef's kitchen. Miele cappuccino/espresso maker, double dishwasher, 6 burner Dacor cooktop with pot filler. Spacious hidden pantry. Top of the line cabinets. Office floors are cherry wood. Sink has a foot pedal for controlling water on and off. Nutone CD Intercom, two-way fireplace from family room to bonus room. Impact... resistant Mylar on windows. Another fi... 02/07/2011

  CLICK to register for our next FREE Foreclosure Options Seminar   Silverwood Residents Facing Foreclosure in The Country Club at Lakewood Ranch Discover Superiority of Short Sales in Bradenton Florida   As nice as it is, the Silverwood community in the Country Club at Lakewood Ranch hasn't escaped the general decline in home prices, nor the drastic rise in regional Foreclosure activity that afflicts the rest of Manatee County. Perhaps hesitantly at first, Silverwood residents are embracing Short Sales as a superior alternative to Foreclosure. A Short Sale is superior to Foreclosure in as much as it is far less damaging to one's credit rating. This is important, because credit ratings are used to assess an individual's worthiness/qualifications in a host of situations: Landlords may u... 02/06/2011

Chase Expands Efforts to Keep People in Their Homes; Increases Number of Chase Homeownership Centers by 50 Percent RISMEDIA, February 4, 2011-Chase announced plans to add 25 new Chase Homeownership Centers in 19 states this year, expanding its program to provide borrowers in the hardest-hit communities with the knowledge and resources they need to explore all the ways they can stay their homes. This investment will bring the total number of Chase Homeownership Centers to 76 nationwide, the company reports. "We want to reach as many homeowners as possible and try to help," said David Lowman, CEO of Chase Home Lending. "The best way to help borrowers find ways to stay in their homes is to sit down face-to-face and discuss their individual circumstances. Our Chase Homeownership Centers hav... 02/06/2011

New Variety of Reverse Mortgage Aims to Cut Costs RISMEDIA, February 4, 2011-(MCT)-Reverse mortgages allow seniors to use their home equity while staying in their homes, but have been criticized for their high upfront fees, among other things.A new loan has hit the market, however, offering sharply lower start-up costs in exchange for a tighter limit on the amount that can be borrowed."It opens up new options for people to think about in terms of how they tap their equity as a retirement resource," said Barbara Stucki, vice president of home equity initiatives at the National Council on Aging.Even with these lower costs, advisers say older homeowners should be cautious about reverse mortgages, because the loans can use up the value of their homes, and because in some cases, salespeople ... 02/06/2011

 LAKEWOOD RANCH / THE SODA GROUP........LOCAL LEADER with a GLOBAL REACH..........   tp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puSy-fmDmj0   JIM SODA DONNA SODA IAN CUTMORE JULIE CUTMORE WWW.JIMSODA.COM 941.840.1168 02/06/2011

  CLICK to register for our next FREE Foreclosure Options Seminar   Homeowners of Edenmore Subdivision in The Country Club at Lakewood Ranch Find Short Sale a Better Choice vs. Foreclosure in Florida Reality has come to the homeowners of Edenmore in The Country Club at Lakewood Ranch as it has to tens of thousand of others in Manatee County and the rest of the Florida Gulf Coast. Considering the long-term damage to credit, and long-term overhanging debt that Foreclosures inevitably bring, is it any wonder that Lakewood Ranch residents are turning to Short Sales as a viable alternative? A Short Sale offers many benefits over Foreclosure: Qualify for a new mortgage in as little as 24-months, vs. up to 7+ years after Foreclosure. In most cases, Avoid Deficienvy Judgement and the long-term... 02/04/2011

How to Secure a Sizable Down Payment While today's real estate market presents challenges for many, it still remains an optimal market for first-time home buyers. Reasonable home prices, a healthy inventory and still-low interest rates create a winning combination for those looking to make the leap from renter to owner. In my years of experience as a real estate professional and a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate® Network, I have never seen such a perfect opportunity to purchase your first home. As a result of tightened lending standards, however, securing a healthy down payment is even more important than ever. The days of zero-down loan programs are a thing of the past and more money on the table upfront can mean a faster approval for your loan and, perhaps, a better rate. While you... 02/03/2011

 LAKEWOOD RANCH / Five Financial Strategies for After Escrow Closes The last of the paperwork has been filed away and the keys are in your hand. Congratulations on joining the ranks of first-time homeowners who've taken advantage of the great home-buying opportunities in today's market! But closing on your home is just one step toward reaching your long-term financial goals. As a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I often advise my clients on financial matters and know that there are several steps new homeowners should take in order to ensure financial stability and protect their new investment. For example, here are five smart financial strategies from author Joe Tyson: Don't splurge. While it's tempting to decorate every room in your new home as soon as possible, be careful ... 02/03/2011

RISMEDIA, November 1, 2010-A growing segment of the housing market-first-time home buyers-are contributing to an increase in demand for smaller and less expensive new homes, according to research from economists at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).Delving into data from the most recent biennial American Housing Survey, which was conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Census Bureau in 2009, the study, "Characteristics of New and First-Time Home Buyers," finds that 41% of the 8.4 million households who bought a home between 2007 and 2009 were first-time buyers."Builders are increasingly gearing their homes to the needs of first-time buyers, and we expect the trend to continue in the period ahead as the economy begins generating more jobs and m... 02/03/2011

RISMEDIA, February 3, 2011-According to the Texas Quarterly Housing Report released by the Texas Association of REALTORS®, Texans bought and sold fewer homes in 2010 than in 2009, but the median price of those homes remained stable from year to year. "It's clear Texas was not immune to the economic downturn in 2010 and that showed in the number of homes sold. However, it's encouraging to see that Texas real estate held its value so well during the year, which bodes well for homeowners as the recovery continues," said Dwight Hale, 2011 chairman of the Texas Association of REALTORS®. Specifically, in 2010, 202,916 homes were sold in Texas, which is 5% fewer than 2009, and the median price for 2010 was $147,600, 1% more than 2009. The report also included statistics for the fourth quarter ... 02/03/2011

Finding a Home That's Right For You   http://manage.top5inrealestate.com/videos/preview/98   Jim Soda www.jimsoda.com 941.809.7759 02/02/2011