Know The Market - Saint Lucie CountyBrian Sharkey can be reached at All Florida Realty Services Inc. at 772-335-1995 ext. 192 or via email Brian@BrianSharkeyRealEstate.comFor the many potential buyers look around Saint Lucie County this weekend, here are some links about the area that will be useful in answering some questions.  In addition you would like me to search some homes for you please fill in the link Receive Home Listings By Email.http://www.stlucierealtors.com/http://www.youredc.com/http://www.stlucieco.gov/http://www.co.st-lucie.fl.us/tourism/index.htmlhttp://www.fpl.com/residential/customer_service.shtmlhttp://www.ballantraepropertyvalues.com/http://www.briansharkeyrealestate.com/http://plato.stlucie.k12.fl.us/index.html Know The Market - Is about educating the customer to ... 11/24/2007

At 2pm on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2007, in Port St. Lucie, Florida it is 83 degrees, sunny with a breeze of 11 mph according to the Weather Channel.The forecast for Black Friday (or the biggest shopping day of the year) calls for a high of 79 degrees with a 40% chance of showers.  The showers will help keep it from being too hot! 11/22/2007

Let me rewrite the headline in todays Port Saint Lucie News paper "St. Lucie jobless number soars""County's unemployment rate is the second worst in the state because of construction jobs continue slump with 21,000 lost across state." the subheading Are you following me so far: here is the first line in the story:"Unemployment on the treasure coast remains up from a year ago but is down slightly from September,"WHY, WHY, WHY did I buy the paper.  WHY, WHY, Why? Nadia thanks for the report its fair and balancedThe media always puts an angle on everything to position it to sell the paper.  Does it matter if the report is accurate or not?At first glance I would have thought most of the jobs lost are from my area, right it said we are second worst in the state..The reality is that we have l... 11/17/2007

How do you figure the expired rate in your area?I've been calculating statistics in the market area for about three years now.  I've learned many agents figure the expired rate in many different ways.I have added the property sold and the expired property together for a period of time the divided the expired from the total, leaving a percentage that I believe tells you the odds of expired as opposed to sold.Saint Lucie county area average expired rate is 75% as of 11/01/2007.  Odds are the client/customer will not go ahead with plans to sell unless they get aggressive with the price.Know the market...Sharkey 11/16/2007

I am a real estate agent in Port Saint Lucie Florida. I started over three years ago in a Local Rental office as a receptionist. I found I liked the business so I got my license. I saw an immediate change in how I was treated in the "office" . I could not longer answer the phone because people thought I was going to steal leads. Even though I worked honestly for them for over a year. I changed to an office that taught by motivating you and teaching about getting listings. I stayed as long as I could because the market was changing and no leads were coming and people stopped buying. I could not afford the desk fee's. So I changed and went back to a local office that is property management. My thoughts were that people were renting. Unfortunately when you split a rental it about pays for ... 11/11/2007

Affordable 3 BR 2 BA Home 672 SW Prado Ave, Port St. Lucie, FL 34983 Click to View Show Fabulous remodeled home in desirable PSL neighborhood, close to Florida’s turnpike, schools and shopping. This is a full 3 BR 2 BA split plan with lovely hardwood floors in the living areas, ceramic tile on the diagonal in the kitchen, and carpeted bedrooms. Completely remodeled in 2005 with new roof, walls, water heater, AC, etc. New (2006) 12 x 22 shed in yard for storage or work room. Fenced and beautifully landscaped yard with 4 person hot tub, fish pond, barbecue smoker, and more. BONUS: Automatic full house backup generator with underground 500 gal propane tank included (a $20,000 value) with this home. 1 Year Home Warranty available.   Details Asking Price: $149,900 MLS: 330328 Sq. Feet: 1928... 10/19/2007

Motivated Sellers are those that have been trying to sell but haven’t been able to for one reason or another. Sometimes, they may be facing foreclosure. Or they may be in a divorce situation. Or they may have been transferred with their job and need to move on, but they don’t want to leave the house empty or deal with renting it out to renters being so far away. Or they may have lost their job and can no longer afford the home and need to find something less expensive. Or they may have purchased another home and are now stuck with two mortgage payments. Or for whatever other reasons, they just need to get out from under their mortgage payments. In the current real estate market, it has become EASIER & EASIER to find these types of individuals.  In the past few years, true motivated sel... 10/15/2007

I love helping people find a place to call home.   When the market was very hot here in Port Saint Lucie it was clear that one of the reasons for the sharp rise in prices was the practice of flipping.  Now let me say from the beginning that I do not see anything wrong with a person investing money in real estate to make a profit.  But the more dollars that flew into the market for a quick flip, the more the demand increased and supplies shrank. Well as any other cycle goes those flipping dollars built more homes at what would become a higher asking price then there were buyers to buy.  You combine that with some sub prime troubles and OOPs.  But less we think everybody should buy a tent and keep our money in a cookie jar let's look at the upside.  What upside you say?   The facts are th... 09/19/2007

I have been spending most of my time renting homes that were bought in the big bubble. Most people moved out of these homes and are trying to stay alive by short sales, foreclosures or renting them at half the payment of the mortgage. Most people do not want to bother with taxes and homeowners in Florida. Who will buy now ? I don't think investors are ready, It looks like the only buyers are banks. If the banks own most of the homes and rent them out how will the market stabilize? I see builders building cheaper homes and competing with the banks low prices of the bigger homes, that have lost value because of them having renters. Will we go to less expensive homes and will the government lower taxes and make home owners insurance affordable, or is this impossible?What will real estate a... 09/17/2007

Finding Rental Property for the Handicap I recently had an experience of trying to find a rental property for a paraplegic in a wheelchair. He was on a fixed income and Had an Organization helping him with first and last. I was amazed at the Home Owners lack of caring. They did everything they could not to rent to this man and his 72 year old mother, who takes care of him. The Owners would not let him bring his working dogs, or let him , at his own expense, make a ramp to get in the door. I searched for handicap rentals and there were none in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. I can not stress enough to agents and Owners Please try to think "if that were you". I took other clients out the next day that were not handicap and the Owners were even going down on the listed price.. You would think i... 09/16/2007

Affordable 3 BR 2 BA Home 672 SW Prado Ave, Port St. Lucie, FL 34983 Click to View Show Fabulous remodeled home in desirable PSL neighborhood, close to Florida’s turnpike, schools and shopping. This is a full 3 BR 2 BA split plan with lovely hardwood floors in the living areas, ceramic tile on the diagonal in the kitchen, and carpeted bedrooms. Completely remodeled in 2005 with new roof, walls, water heater, AC, etc. New (2006) 12 x 22 shed in yard for storage or work room. Fenced and beautifully landscaped yard with 4 person hot tub, fish pond, barbecue smoker, and more. BONUS: Automatic full house backup generator with underground 500 gal propane tank included (a $20,000 value) with this home. 1 Year Home Warranty available.   Details Asking Price: $159,900 MLS: 330328 Sq. Feet: 1928... 09/03/2007

These criminals skip over foreclosure notices on newer homes with subprime loans and mortgages made with low down payments or none at all. They are looking for foreclosures on homes with loans that are a decade old or more, those that have a nice buildup of equity. They arrange to get that equity for themselves. Though there are legitimate, mostly nonprofit, operations that can help homeowners in distress, there is a growing army of criminals that prey on this group. They get leads from sites such as PreForeclosure.com and AllForeclosure.com. The sites compile public records to provide leads for legitimate investors, but anyone can access them. People on the list say they receive letters daily that offer to help them avoid foreclosure. Here's how the scam works. Rescuers say they will r... 08/21/2007

We have a habit of placing into our offers that either our buyer or seller we represent will select the Title Company to handle our transaction. We`ve been working with the same Title Company for 7 years.It`s been my belief for the past 2 years that too many Title companies have decided to "Open Shop" with an entirely different agenda!I`ve dealt with Mortgage Brokers who have insisted we use these "Fly by Night Title Companies" which is a direct conflict of interest and many times "Junk fee`s" mysteriously are tacked on for no reason,except to line the pocket of the Mortgage Broker and these title companies.It`s amazing to see who`s interest they represent! protecting?Yesterday, we ran into a situation where we closed on a transaction in Port Saint Lucie last week. We represented the Se... 08/07/2007

Hanover's "Bedford Park" is centrally located in Port St. Lucie's charming neighborhood of Traditions and is just walking distance from Tradition's old town shops and dining. This lovely community consists of single family homes and attached town homes much like the old city Brownstones that possess a 1950's charm with warm and homey front porches and many different style parcels to choose from. Prices range from 250's to mid 300's for 3 and 4 bedroom homes.  For more information on this community and many others in Traditions, call Sharyn Krim with Keller Williams Realty at 561-801-3343, email Sharyn@SKrim.com or visit her website at http://www.enjoyportstlucie.com  07/19/2007

Port St. Lucie, Florida, Lakes at Tradtions is Divosta's premiere gated community consisting of 2 and 3 bedroom poured concrete single family homes and town homes.  Divosta has included nothing but the best with their top of the line amenities including screened porches, solid surface counters, built in book cases and open floor plans on private lots.  You'll enjoy the large clubhouse and pool this lovely community has to offer.  The Capri model is 1500+ square feet  under air and has 2 bedrooms 2 baths and a 2 car garage. Starting price is 199,900 and ranges up to the $250's.  The Oakmont model is 3 bedrooms, 2 baths & 2 car garage and is 2,000 square feet under air.  Prices for the Oakmont range from the ladder $200's to 300's.  Oakmonts offer front load and side load garage. Divosta ... 07/19/2007

You'll step back in time when you enter the majestic all inclusive community of Traditions in Port St. Lucie, FL.  Named appropriately for its 1950's charm and its encouragement of coming "home" to the peace and tranquility that all ages long for, reputable new home builders such as Divosta, Hanover, Kennedy, Toll Brothers, Minto and many more have shared their talent to offer an array of different types of single families, town homes and condos for everyone's dreams and needs. Walk the tree lined streets and enjoy your choice of bistros, restaurants, cafes and coffee houses. Publix, TJ Maxx and Target are walking distance within Traditions as well as a myriad of other shops to include spa, gym, gift shops and so much more!  The Town hall offers a fun Florida lifestyle when they invite ... 07/19/2007

Selling a house in Florida in "Hurricane Season" I have lived in Florida since 1984, and have seen hurricanes come and go. The last three were the most intense, Frances hit on my husbands birthday, Jeanne hit on my birthday, and Wilma was a surprise. What most insurance companies have done is made "frame" homes twice as expensive to insure. So even if this beautiful frame or fame stucco house 3/2/2 is on 1/2 acre lot and going for under 190,000 you can't give it away. I think the homes are harder to sell because of insurance companies and taxes so the state should make CBS homes tax's higher and give the frame homes a break. None of my frame homes have even had a showing. Most people bought them in the 1980's and want to make some profit to move, but they have to give them to the bank o... 07/11/2007

The market has so many homes that were bought at 100% financing and now the payments and taxes are sky rocketing. They turn to us to sell their home so they can hopefully not foreclose. I find the sellers want us to lower our commission and cut costs but still sell the home. If by chance you find a buyer, the sale is very fragile until the day of closing. The mortgage brokers will give a denial of a loan without a real denial if the customer wants out. I find this disturbing. The Buyers even want it all, they want the seller to pay closing costs and put 500.00 down. Well no more for me. I thought because it was being bought through a community program I was safe, but no it fell a day before closing. I had a commitment and a HUD and the buyer still got a denial. Advertising is a problem ... 07/10/2007

According to U.S. Census figures released today (June 28, 2007) Port St. Lucie, on the east coast of Florida, is ranked as the third fastest growing city in the United States with 12,909 new residents between July 2005 and July 2006.  While this is down from the #1 spot for 2003-2004 and the #2 spot for 2002-2003, it is still good news for this area.  The housing market has slowed down, as it has throughout Florida, but we are still leading every other city in the state. These rankings have contributed to a huge increase in commercial development that had been lacking for many years in Port St. Lucie.  New developments such as Tradition and Tesoro have added a much wider variety of life styles for residents of the area.  Port St. Lucie is located between West Palm Beach and Vero Beach a... 06/28/2007

There'a a great new publication out in Port St. Lucie, Florida, called Your Home Town Connexion.  It's got all the information needed for new residents or visitors to the area.  It's a print magazine but you can also download it on the internet at http://www.yourhometownconnexion.com. You'll find photos of the area, blogs about the area, a calendar of events, website addresses, phone numbers, school information, and so much more.  Anyone thinking of moving or visiting the Port St. Lucie area in St. Lucie County, Florida should check this out.  AND it's all FREE. 06/23/2007