Finding a Mortgage for Your New Home Banks vs. Mortgage Brokers If you're buying a home, chances are you'll need a mortgage, but did you know there are big differences between mortgage brokers and bank loan officers?   Bank Loan Officers The loan officers at a bank, credit union or other lending institution are employees who work to sell and process mortgages and other loans originated by their employer. They often have a wide variety of loans types to draw from, but all loans originate from one lending institution. The loan officer takes your application and works to find a home loan that suits your needs. If your personal credit is approved, the officer moves forward to process the purchase.   Mortgage Brokers Mortgage brokers are professionals who are paid a fee to bring together len... 07/01/2013

Tradition Market Report 34987, July 1, 2013   Price Trends - Sold vs. Listed Understand the difference between "listing prices" (what sellers are asking for) and "sold prices" (what buyers are willing to pay). By comparing these price trends, you'll have a good idea of where the market is heading. The median listing and sold property prices are calculated based on the market activity each month.     Market Inventory Trends   The number of active listings in Port Saint Lucie increased by 22.6% from the previous month. The median number of days active properties have been listed is 56. This is significantly shorter than the national average. The number of sales in March dropped by 48.3% from the previous month.     Property Ownership     This chart shows home occupancy within The Traditio... 06/30/2013

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SHORT SALE:  271 SW Palm Dr Unit 206, Port St Lucie, FL 34986. On any given successful short sale, I am content with letting everyone know another lucky homeowner has SOLD THEIR HOME with Kevin B Tolbert PA of Keller Williams Realty and gotten money back at closing, but this time, you folks need to know WHY I AM THE DIFFERENCE? Why do I say ANY REALTOR can LIST A SHORT SALE, but in Port St Lucie there is only ONE CHOICE to SUCCESSFULLY CLOSE YOUR SHORT SALE and this is Kevin B Tolbert PA of Keller Williams Realty. This Short Sale above 271 SW Palm Dr Unit 206, Port St Lucie, FL 34986 is closing this week and here are the details: List Price:  $79,988 Past Due HOA:  $31,000 Lienholder:  Bank of America Previous Listings and Sales with NO SUCCESSFUL CLOSING:  4 ATTEMPTS... 06/30/2013

Folks, I must say that back in 2012, I quit visiting Sonny's BBQ when the prices jumped nearly 30% overnight and the food and service quality went into the toilet. It was not just my opinion, but the opinion over 50% of the staff including management who all went down the street into Stuart and opened a brand new BBQ restaurant as they all agreed the ownership was letting this store just run into the ground. With the building in great disrepair, food quality lacking, and service nonexistent, and then the nerve to raise prices in an effort to make up for poor sales, that was the final straw for a loyal customer of 38 years. I even took the time to call and speak to Sonny's corporate office and leave many facebook messages on their page. Well, all I can say is FOLKS of Port St Lucie, YA'L... 06/30/2013

Tradition Market Report, 34987 June 29th, 2013   Market Inventory Trends   The number of active listings in Port Saint Lucie increased by 13.4% from the previous month. The median number of days active properties have been listed is 44. This is significantly shorter than the national average. The number of sales in February dropped by 71.4% from the previous month.   Property Ownership   This chart shows home occupancy within The Tradition Area, 34957 A high percentage of ownership can indicate an area where people like to live and stable property prices. While a high percentage of rentals could indicate an area with shifting demographics, a younger community, or possibly a downtown area. High vacancy rates can indicate that the market is unhealthy and that it could be tough to sell a h... 06/29/2013

  Special Report has everything you need to sell your St. Lucie area house yourself.   Log on to www.TraditionRealEstate.com   What's In It For You?   Wouldn't it be great to have a simple, straightforward, easy-to-follow formula for you to sell your St. Lucie area house while avoiding all potential pitfalls?   Wouldn't it be even better if it were written by a seasoned, local agent/broker who, has already made every mistake in the book, learned from their mistakes, and are passing on their best tips so that you can get it right the first time?   And finally, wouldn't it be best if this information were easy for you to obtain (a phone call or click away), brought right to your door, and didn't cost you one red cent?   This Special Report Gives You All You Need:   1.  Understand Market C... 06/29/2013

I decided to go out to lunch with my partner yesterday, and we chose The Sailor’s Return.  The Sailor’s Return is located right under the Roosevelt Bridge, nestled on the sparkling deep waters of the St. Lucie River in Stuart.  We were immediately greeted, and promptly seated in a seat right by the window overlooking the wonderful tropical harbor setting.    The Sailor’s Return was pretty full for 1:30pm in the afternoon, and our server Christina came right over and made us feel right at home.  Christina took our drink orders and then told us about the lunch specials they had for the day.  Once we ordered, our food was out on the table in less than 10 minutes.    I had the soup of the day, leg of lamb stew, and the turkey wrap, with coleslaw.  My partner had the lunch special blackened ... 06/28/2013

It's a great time to buy!  If you are in the market for a home without the hassle of a mortgage and have wisely saved your money to pay cash for your next home or investment property, you've definitely got a powerful advantage in today's market.  However, just because you're not subject to the same rules and regulations that are required from mortgage lenders - doesn't mean you should just sign on any dotted line.  To protect your rights and best financial interests - be sure to consult with a real estate professional and follow this important checklist: Title Search:  This will show any liens on the property or title problems you might face Title Insurance:  A must-have for the cash buyer - especially when considering distressed or foreclosed properties Home Inspection:  Never buy a pr... 06/28/2013

It is all good news from our National Association of Realtors.  Pending home sales rose in May to the highest level since late 2006, implying a possible spark as mortgage interest rates began to rise, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). Contract activity is at the strongest pace since December 2006. Pending sales have been above year-ago levels for the past 25 months. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said there might be a fence-jumping effect.“Even with limited choices, it appears some of the rise in contract signings could be from buyers wanting to take advantage of current affordability conditions before mortgage interest rates move higher,” Yun says. “This implies a continuation of double-digit price increases from a year earlier, with a strong push from pent... 06/27/2013

Freedomfest 2013 set for July 4 outside Civic Center Posted: June 19, 2013 The City of Port St. Lucie’s annual Independence Day Freedomfest celebration will begin Thursday, July 4, at 2 p.m. outside the Civic Center and will provide a day of patriotic fun, music and food for people of all ages. A family-friendly tradition in Port St. Lucie for many years, Freedomfest is one of the city’s biggest annual social events. There will be bounce houses, arts and crafts vendors, free face painting, caricature drawings, a balloon artist and more. Admission and parking are free. VIP Party For the best seating and great food, the Freedomfest VIP party will feature a buffet (including pulled pork, chicken quarters or strips, hot dogs and all the fixings) starting at 6:30 p.m. on the back patio of th... 06/26/2013

Local real estate conditions are changing and your Market Insider provides valuable, up-to-date information about the communities important to you. View critical information about what is happening now, so you can be a "Market Insider"! Market Area: 34987 Listing Price $258,410 Listing Price Trend -0.17% Sold Price $205,500 Sold Price Trend + 2% Just a fraction of what's happening...click now to view more local market conditions! Buying or selling a home involves many factors. Stay on top of current community trends by viewing these listing and sale prices, demographics, school performance, area comparisons, and more. Of course, you can always call or email for help understanding what this information really means for you. Featured "Insider Tip" Creating Curb Appeal: 6 Ways to Improve ... 06/19/2013

Don't you love a vegetable market?  We Do!  Ron and I have often visited the Farmer's market in downtown Fort Pierce and on US1 in Port St. Lucie at City Center.  Both are just wonderful - Guess What?  There is a NEW Market and it is right around the corner from us.  At Tradition, I-95 and Gatlin you will find The Landings.  Home of Super Target, LA Fitness, PetCo, Bed Bath and Beyond,  Restaurants and a whole lot more. Here is what is available at The Landings Now the Sunday vegetable Market is here.  Tent after Tent is lined up with fresh from the farm produce that you can't find any better. Our favorite find is Egg Plant, why?  Well, I am sharing my favorite recipe with you: An Eggplant Parmesan your waistline will love:  (A lighter version of an old classic) 2 eggplants (2#total) 3... 06/18/2013

I am about to astound and amaze you with a market report that will show just how incredible this market recovery is happening in Port St Lucie, FL 34987. We have all heard recently about this thing called RECOVERY in our real estate market.  But hearing and SEEING with your own eyes is 2 different things. When you see for yourself, I expect our savvy investors out there may want to call me immediately to get into this wonderful market while the prices are -rising rapidly so I will offer you this up front.  You can reach Kevin B Tolbert PA of Keller Williams Realty at 772-834-0099. And you can click MARKET INSIDER REPORT to see all of the homes and land in the Port St Lucie, FL 34987 area. The following report is going to show a sample of the rising prices and the diminishing inventory i... 06/02/2013

Get your Real Estate License in Port Saint Lucie Florida with our Online Pre Salas Associate Course at www.rowlettonlinerealestateschool.com .  Our Online Courses are State Approved and meet all theall the education requirements of the Florida Real Estate Commission for your Florida Real Estate License. This course is based from the textbook Florida Real Estate Principles, Practices, and Law.  Our online courses are complete with all necessary materials built in.   If you are looking for the best online real estate school in Port Saint Lucie Florida to take your Pre Sales License course with, you have just found it.  Rowlett Online Real Estate School has a passing rate for the Florida Real Estate Exam that is among the highest in the state. Port Saint Lucie Florida is a great place to b... 05/26/2013

2842 SW Dinner St                                                      Listed at $113,000 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 2 Car Garage. Tile throughout the house. Newer spacious kitchen with tiled countertops. All appliances ( including washer and dryer) stay. Conveniently located between I- 95 and Turnpike. Not a short sale and not foreclosure. Clean and easy to see. Call Anna Chroscicki at 772-485-4188 with any questions. Visit me at www.annasellsrealestate.com  to view more pictures....                                                        05/24/2013

05/24/2013

Luxury 3/2/2 Pool home.  Oversized driveway leads to over 1800 sqft of luxury.  Double door entry way.  Diagonal tiled throughout house.  NO CARPET HERE.               Brand new kitchen and bathrooms.  Granite countertops, with wood cabinets  42" cabinets in kitchen.  COOK ISLAND in kitchen, with all brand new stainless steel appliances.                   Crown molding in living room, dining room, family room and master bedroom.  Lighting is no issue here all rooms including laundry room and garage have windows.          French doors on Master bedroom, dining room and family room.  All French doors are impact glass.  Landscaped in front and rear yards.  Over sized pool.  Outdoor shower and cabana bathroom.  Completely fenced with white PVC fencing for you security and privacy. 05/17/2013

Market Analysis Community Info Local Schools Compare Areas Insider Tips   Price Trends - Sold vs. Listed   The median list price in May for single family homes in Port Saint Lucie is$219,452. The price per square foot for listings in this area is $89. The median sale price in February forsingle family homes is $209,300. The sale prices increased by 16.34%from the previous month. The price per square foot for sales in this area is $72.       Market Inventory Trends     Property Ownership   Additional Statistics for Single Family Homes and Condos in Port Saint Lucie, FL $214,830 Median Listing Price 90 Median Days on Market 90 Active Listings 10.0% Distressed Listings(foreclosures and short sales)   Become a Market Insider Get FREE access to valuable market data! Sign Up Now 05/16/2013

Happy Mother's Day to all Mums and Single Dads.   Mothers we never got an instruction book when we had our children.  But we learnt the job anyway.    Some of us became mothers because we just embraced another's child.  Some of us are just born nurturers.    Single dads I am giving you a special mention because you are doing both jobs, being dad and mum.   I take my hat off to each and every one of you.    I pray all have an extremely blessed day and wonderfully blessed year.   05/11/2013

I went to my bank this morning and made friendly chat with them as usual.   Then as I completed my transaction and was  saying my good byes they gave me a beautiful carnation and wished me "Happy Mother's Day."  I have had a week of not being a great friend of the banks,  but today they brought a smile to my face.    To all the Mother's out there                                                               05/11/2013