Watching the news and Bank of America saw a profit of over 3 BILLION dollars but their revenue was down which are concerning their investors.  This just makes me want to help homeowners even more with their short sales as the banks are still somehow making profits while the consumers are stuggling.  07/17/2010

A homeowner came to me and needed to sell his home.  He was recently divorced and had moved out of his home leaving it to his wife and daughter.  Not long after he moved out his wife and daughter moved out too.  So he decided to rent out the home to help cover the expenses of carrying two homes.  It wasn't long before he found himself not able to carry both homes and came to me to help him out with a short sale. Tenants were not happy about the sale, confrontational and not cooperative.  In fact they told me that they are going to do everything in their power to stall the sale as they considered this to be their home.  I listed the property with notations of "tenants in place."  True to their word the home was a housekeeping disaster and most of the potential buyers had trouble looking ... 07/16/2010

The town of Venice is situated 20 miles south of Sarasota and is regarded as a splendid paradise on the Gulf of Mexico.What I find most intriguing about the Venice FL Real Estate market is not its beautiful coastal landscape or the miles of white, sandy beaches, but the devotion of the Venetian inhabitants to preserve its original character blended with the modern elements of today. At a time when cultural and historical heritages are endangered by the powerful beating rhythm of daily economic developments, Venice keeps it real by protecting its older value and creating both tourists and residents the opportunity to get to know and admire centuries-passed architecture and style of living. Visit Venice to see the oldest home ever built in this town, dating since 1896. Or to admire the hi... 07/15/2010

The number of homes for sale increased again for the month of June, up 1.2% from May: 3165 homes for sale to 3203 homes for sale.  Pending sales increased, up 9.2% from May: 381 properties pending to 416 properties pending closing. Closed sales increased, up 2.3%, from 444 properties sold to 454 properties sold during the month of May.  Evidence the road to recovery will be a bumpy one but we are headed in the right direction.  Price have stabilized for the Venice area and some communities are seeing a small increase in prices. Home buyers unable to tap into a federal tax credit before it expired on April 30th are finding a consolation prize in mortgage rates, which are near their lowest level on record.    Government sponsored mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said the average rate of 30 year... 07/15/2010

Webster's dictionary defines luxury as: a condition of abundance or great ease and comfort : sumptuous environment.  This could be no truer than the collection of Venice FL Luxury Homes that can be found online at Sarasota Choice Homes. Venice Florida is located south of Sarasota Florida.  Far enough away to have it's own distinctive feel and vibe, yet close enough to Sarasota to take advantage of the amenities of both locations.Not all of the Venice FL Luxury Homes listed for sale are located on the water or beach.  Some are equestrian properties offering acreage, while other are located inland.  Current prices range from $13,500,000 down the the more reasonable range of homes in the $1 million range.  The Sarasota Choice Homes Website allows you to search Venice FL Luxury Homes by pri... 07/05/2010

Venice FL Real Estate & Homes for Sale in Venice Florida Venice FL Real Estate We have created specific searches for Venice FL Foreclosures & Short Sales, Venice FL Waterfront Homes for sale, Venice FL Homes with Pools, Venice FL Condos for Sale. The listings allow you to browse available properties, save searches, view prices and virtual tours in the comfort of your own home, all without having to contact a agent. When you are ready to buy a home you can contact Sarasota Choice Homes at 941-375-4030 for more information regarding Venice FL Real Estate. Venice FL Homes for Sale - By Price Range Venice FL Homes for Sale $700,000 - $800,000 $1,000,000 - $1,250,000 $2,000,000 - $3,000,000 $500,000 - $600,000 $800,000 - $900,000 $1,250,000 - $1,500,000 $3,000,000 & Above $600,000 - $700,000... 06/19/2010

Sarasota/Charlotte County Luxury Property Update May 2010   Luxury homes sales in the Sarasota and Charlotte Counties for 2010 are promising.  We are seeing a increase in properties going under contract, healthy increase in the number of properties sold and a steady decrease in the amount of properties available for sale, all indicators that the luxury real estate market is slowly headed towards a recovery. The numbers of luxury properties available for sale are declining, from 1058 properties in May 2009 to 839 properties in May 2010.  Pending sales have increased almost 7% with 30 properties under contract.  Closed sales increased from 26 properties in May of 2009 to 36 properties sold in May 2010 up over 38%.     Luxury Home Statistics 839 properties available for sale over $1,000,00... 06/13/2010

If you are looking for a Keller Williams Venice FL Agent and team, we ask that you consider working with team of professionals with Sarasota Choice Homes. Sarasota Choice Homes specializes in working with buyers and sellers in Venice Florida and the surrounding areas of Nokomis, Osprey, Sarasota & Englewood. Our Website allows you to search for Venice FL Homes for sale by price range including the Luxury Venice FL Homes. You can perform searches by community, price range or use our map interface.Whatever your choice, whatever your lifestyle - we are here to assist you.   06/07/2010

Property Update Report by Kari A. Battaglia For more information please call (941)-270-1851 The report summarizes listings sold, as well as active/pending listings for Jacaranda West.  Listings summarized in the following table are based on information from the Mid Florida Regional MLS and/or other MLS Services.  Properties sold were not all listed by Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate and were listed by various MLS participating offices.  Please note that For Sale By Owner properties are excluded because they often do not represent the full value of what they could sell for when properly priced and exposed to a greater number of qualified buyers through a professional real estate agent.  The most recent listings sold are shown in more detail below as they represent the best indic... 06/03/2010

      Develop a family hurricane preparedness plan before an actual storm threatens your area.   If your family hurricane preparedness plan includes evacuation to a safer location for any of the reasons specified with in this web site, then it is important to consider the following points. If ordered to evacuate, do not wait or delay your departure.   If possible, leave before local officials issue an evacuation order for your area. Even a slight delay in starting your evacuation will result in significantly longer travel times as traffic congestion worsens. Select an evacuation destination that is nearest to your home, preferably in the same county, or at least minimize the distance over which you must travel in order to reach your intended shelter location.   In choosing your destina... 05/31/2010

Property Update Report by Kari A. Battaglia, PA For more information please call (941)-270-1851 The report summarizes listings sold, as well as active/pending listings for Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club.  Listings summarized in the following table are based on information from the Mid Florida Regional MLS and/or other MLS Services.  Properties sold were not all listed by Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate and were listed by various MLS participating offices.  Please note that For Sale By Owner properties are excluded because they often do not represent the full value of what they could sell for when properly priced and exposed to a greater number of qualified buyers through a professional real estate agent.  The most recent listings sold are shown in more detail below as they r... 05/18/2010

 Venice/Englewood Area Real Estate Market Update March 2010 The first quarter results for the Venice FL real estate market and the Englewood FL real estate market for 2010 are promising.  We have seen a strong increase in properties going under contract, healthy increase in the number of homes sold each month and a steady decrease in the amount of properties available for sale.  The number of properties for sale in the Venice FL real estate markets have decreased again for the month of April 2010, down 2.4% from March 2010: 3236 homes for sale to 3157 homes for sale.  Pending sales are up again for the 4th month in a row, up 7.8% from March 2010: 593 properties pending to 639 properties pending in April 2010.  Closed sales decreased for the first time since December 2009, down 8.3%, fro... 05/12/2010

Take advantage of this exciting Coldwell Banker Buyer Bonus national sales event, running from May 1 through July 31, and offer your buyers an extra incentive. The Buyer Bonus event features: · National TV ads throughout May · Online promotional display ads on major newspaper Web sites · Special promotions on FloridaMoves.com and coldwellbanker.com · Social media outreach on Facebook and Twitter · Video on Coldwell Banker's YouTube channel, OnLocation · Buyer Bonus event listing and display ads in local newspapers You can get in on this powerful marketing campaign by agreeing to credit back to the buyer at closing* 3% of the accepted offer price of your home, up to $8,000. If you're as serious about selling your home as I am, contact me for details.     Contact Kari A. Battaglia, PA GRI... 05/06/2010

The public will have an opportunity to tour a Hurricane Hunter aircraft during a visit to Sarasota by NOAA hurricane experts from 3-4:30 p.m., Friday, April 30 at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. The plane will be at Dolphin Aviation on the west side of the airport at 8191 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.The hurricane team is coming to Sarasota as part of a Gulf Coast Hurricane Awareness Tour about storm threats and the importance of having a personal preparedness hurricane plan. The group will include Bill Read, director of NOAA's National Hurricane Center, hurricane specialists Dan Brown and John Cagialosi, and storm surge specialist Jamie Rhome.The hurricane season begins June 1. Ed McCrane, Sarasota County Emergency Management Chief, reminds residents to be prepared by knowi... 04/27/2010

The first quarter results for the Venice FL and Englewood FL real estate markets for 2010 are promising.  We have seen a strong increase in properties going under contract, healthy increase in the number of homes sold each month and a steady decrease in the amount of properties for sale.  The number of properties available for sale in the Venice FL real estate markets has decreased again for the month of March 2010, down 1.1% from February 2010: 3272 homes for sale to 3236 homes for sale.  Pending sales are up again for the 3rdmonth in a row, up 23.6% from February 2010: 517 properties pending to 639 properties pending.  Closed sales have increased from February 2010 by 28.1%, from 377 properties sold to 483 properties sold during the month of February 2010.  The increase in homes sold ... 04/11/2010

Another exciting event that the Venice Area Board of Realtors "Green Committee" is sponsoring, along with Sarasota Florida's Natural Awakenings Magazine, Tri County Air Conditioning & Heating, and BB&T Bank, is the Venice Area "Green Living Expo" to be held in Venice FL at Centennial Park downtown Venice on Saturday, April 10th, 2010 from 10:00am - 4:00pm.  We have approximately 50 Vendors, 3 Guest Speakers and the Venice Orchestra to entertain and educate us on Energy Efficiency, sources of "Green" materials.  Pizza, hot dogs and sodas will be available for purchase, proceeds will be donated to South Sarasota County Habitat for Humanity. ALL PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT VABRs HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FUND 04/11/2010

Venice Florida OPEN HOUSE- Home For Sale- 579 Khyber Lane in Governor's Green, Plantation Golf& CC, Sunday April 11, 1-3 pm!  This spectacular Spanish Mediterranean-style home will be just one of thousands on display during the All-State of Florida Open House Extravaganza, but "none will be any more proud" than this charmer on the 11th fairway of the truly professional Panther Course at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida! With 3 spacious bedrooms, 2 upscale bathrooms, an oversized 2-car garage you have the beginnings of one fine property. Now, let's add on the "icing"...Real hardwood flooring that looks brand-new in foyer, living and dining rooms; Oak cabinets that sparkle in the open and island-kitchen; Ceramic tile in the kitchen, family room and both baths; Top-line... 04/05/2010

YES,  You can See My VIEW on Florida Realtor's Open House Extravaganza - Home For Sale - 589 Khyber Lane, Venice Florida  Sunday, April 11, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM!   This 0.4 acre premium view-lot, 2431 sq ft Home in Spanish Mediterranean-Style may bench-mark for you what view lots are all about in the Venice Area.  This 3 bedroom/2 bath/2 car-garage is situated on the FIRST lot purchased in the ever-popular and Gated Governor's Green Community of 87 spacious homes that are along fairways and lakes of the "Panther" 18-hole course of PGCC.  If more need be said, it also sits between a cul-de-sac on the front and 2 fairways behind and one to the side! Lots of mature Oaks and Palms makes for a very picturesque and quiet community, with fees less than $100 per month.  Did I hear a WOW?  The a... 04/04/2010

Oak Tree-Rich PARK ESTATES In Venice Florida could make a terrific place to call your home! That's if you truly love NATURE and don't mind raking up oak leaves in the Spring and Acorns in the Fall! The trees are most Laurel Oak with a smattering of Live Oak, and at this time of the year they are in their glory as new foliage is bursting forth. Since the Laurel and Live Oaks are not manmade, their populations are made up of hundreds, if not thousands, of strains so the leaf shedding and new leaf emergence phases can each last about a month. The raking "ceremony" is very similar, you surmise, with that Fall activity with Maples in the North, except we do no burning and instead send them to a County-run composting program. These marvelous species make Park Estates a dandy, quiet and reward... 03/31/2010

Venice Florida OPEN HOUSE- Home For Sale- 589 Khyber Lane in Governor's Green, Plantation Golf & CC, Sunday 1-3---This fine spanish renaissance-style home of 2431 square feet under air with 3 Bedrooms and 2 full Baths resides on 0.4 acres and has the Creme de la Creme views "about which to write home". It is for sale at $410,000. The property looks out over 2 Fairways from 5 rooms to the rear and 1 Tee box and Fairway to the side! This 4 tenths of an acre Lot was purchased on the opening sales day of the new development in 1991, because of its premium and unsurfaced views. The home faces North so the rear views are southern, giving great sunrise and sunset excitement! The large lot has a circular drive large enough for 5-6 cars, and the garage is an enlarged 2-Car. The 12-foot wide feat... 03/27/2010