Posts made in June, 2010

Buyers: 8 Steps to Finding Your Perfect Home

Posted by Mark Weber on Jun 30, 2010 in Naples Homes Blog | 12 comments

Finding your perfect home in today’s market can be a challenge for new and seasoned home buyers alike. Whether you are looking for a home in my hometown of Naples, Florida or anywhere in the world, there are some basic steps you should take to ensure your success.

1. Research before you look. 87% of buyers now begin their home search on the Internet according to the National Association of Realtors®. This is an important step that can mean more wasted time than not unless you find and use a comprehensive web site. This portal to the local real estate multiple listing service (MLS) should allow you free access to all the local listings and the ability to narrow your search from a wide range of criteria. Sites that only allow you limited access until you send them your most intimate personal details and are nothing more than lead generation tools for the designers are not the places you want to be spending your time.  Also steer clear of web sites that only give you the agent or office listings. You want to see everything in the local MLS and then narrow your search to the best of the best.

Our site, www.whitesandsnaples.com is a prime example of what to look for in a local real estate search. We designed our web site to allow buyers from around the world to see everything for sale in Naples Florida. You can search for Naples foreclosures and eliminate short sales if you like. It even allows you to search for vacant land, rentals, and Naples commercial property.

If you’re looking for similar web sites in different areas, in your browser, type in the name of the area (In our case: Naples Florida), then the terms “Real Estate.” Example: “Naples Florida Real Estate.”

Once you find an easy-to-use site that allows you access to all MLS listings in the local area, go to the “About” tab and read about the experience and background of the company or Realtor who set up the site. If you like what you see, don’t be afraid to sign up for more information and email them directly with your contact information. If they respond timely and professionally, then you know you have found someone in the area that can help you find your dream home (see step 8).

Ask your new contact lots of questions, but be sure to …

2. Be realistic. It’s OK to be picky, but don’t be unrealistic with your expectations. There’s no such thing as a perfect home. Use your list of priorities as a guide to evaluate each property.

3. Get your finances in order. Really this should be done prior to step 1. You don’t want to fall in love with something you can’t afford. Review your credit report and be sure you have enough money to cover your down payment and closing costs. Then, talk to a lender and get prequalified for a mortgage. This will help when it comes to negotiations. Many sellers will ask for your prequalification letter and if you already have it ready it will give you an edge and show your sincerity to the seller. This could lead to better pricing or terms on your end.

Be wary of online lenders and amazing low rates. Chances are these entry rates will come with lots of additional fees tacked on. Also many of these online lenders work out of their homes and will tell you just about anything to get your business. Ask your local Realtor from step 1 who he recommends. Realtors tend to choose the best lenders that get the job done and keep their buyers happy.

4. Don’t ask too many people for opinions. It will drive you crazy. Select one or two people to turn to if you feel you need a second opinion, but be ready to make the final decision with your spouse or on your own. If you’ve done your homework in the above steps, you can be confident your making an educated decision. Don’t second guess yourself. Focus on the beauty of your new home and enjoy everything it has to offer.

5. Decide your moving time-line. When is your lease up? Are you allowed to sublet? How tight is the rental market in your area? All of these factors will help you determine when you should move. Remember that when you get to the negotiation table you will most likely have the edge if you can move quickly, especially if the property is vacant. Sellers expenses can add up if you delay the closing for more than forty-five days. Every month that goes by they have to pay more taxes and other fees to maintain the property.

6. Think long term. Are you looking for a starter house with plans to move up in a few years, or do you hope to stay in this home for a longer period? This decision may dictate what type of home you’ll buy as well as the type of mortgage terms that will best suit you.

7. Insist on a home inspection. Always do a basic home inspection from a reputable home inspector. Your Realtor should be able to recommend one or two inspectors. If mold or radon is suspected, don’t hesitate to add these to the inspection. Pool equipment should also be inspected by a pool company if it’s present. If possible, get a warranty from the seller to cover defects for one year. Some inspection companies provide warranties as well.

8. Research & Hire a REALTOR®. I mentioned this already in step one, but it’s worth mentioning again that you should be committed to one Realtor in the area where you’re buying. Google them by name and company and ask for references and reviews. I always tell my new customers to Google me at “Mark Weber Naples” and look up my reviews online. These are excellent sources to find background information on your local real estate professional. The Internet has the good, bad and the ugly. If there is someone out there they have wronged it will likely show up. Conversely if they are great at what they do, it will also show up in these simple background searches anyone can do.

When you’re confident, hire a Realtor who specializes in buyer representation. Unlike a listing agent, whose first duty is to the seller, a buyer’s representative is working only for you. Buyer’s reps paid out of the seller’s commission payment. They work hard on your behalf to get you the best deal possible. They are obligated by law  to be loyal to you and most of all protect you.

Return the same loyalty to your chosen Realtor. If you see an open house on Sunday while driving by, let the agent inside know you are working with another Realtor and they should respect that. Keep some of your Realtors business cards and hand them out if another agent asks or hounds you for information. Loyalty is a two way street and you will be rewarded in spades when your Realtor goes to bat for you during tough negotiations.

Loving where you live is one of the best feelings in the world. Follow these steps and you will find the home of your dreams. Remember it’s a process. You will go through ups and downs along the way, but in the end you will know you made the right decision.

Reality Check: Tweet & Sell on Twitter

Posted by Mark Weber on Jun 29, 2010 in Naples Homes Blog | 0 comments

“Twitter” used to be a word associated with bird sounds or general excitement, but now it’s synonymous with a high-flying social media service based at Twitter.com. Oprah, actor Ashton Kutcher and CNN have recently nudged Twitter further into the national conscience, but the publicity was hardly necessary. Unofficial figures for the free service that bills itself as a place for friends to connect estimate monthly users in the millions.

The networking potential of the hot new medium is not lost on Naples real estate broker Mark Weber. The owner of White Sands Realty reports he has been posting “tweets” on his site for about three months and has good results.

“I’ve heard from people from various parts of the country and even from a man in Greece,” the Naples realtor says. “I like the immediacy of it and the opportunity to create a global presence.”

Weber’s Twitter site, NaplesProperty, includes a short biography, family photo, some quotes, real estate advice and, at one point, a virtual tour of a $16.4 million sold property that has drawn a lot of response, he says.

“Twitter is as much about giving your knowledge freely as it is self-promotion,” he says. “It’s truly an interesting balance, siding on giving. Then, every once in a while, when you need to promote something truly worthy, your followers will listen to your request. A good, but unwritten, rule is that for every self-promoting tweet, you should give seven tweets of unique, free information.”

For example, Weber recently informed followers about a new addendum to real estate contracts concerning Chinese drywall and supplied a link for those who want more information.

“Tweets are limited to 140 characters,” he explains, “so you have to be concise and plan your content carefully.”

Followers, as they are called, can access Twitter through their cell phones or computers. Those who have a registered site can also forward material received. Weber says he likes his heightened profile and the increased prospects for new business.

“There may be potential home buyers out there with whom I’m making a connection, or fellow professionals with whom I can forge mutually beneficial,” he says. “One guy in California contacted me about referrals, and a couple seeking a local condo also found me through Twitter.”

Copyright © 2010 Gulfshore Life Magazine ®. All Rights Reserved.

Home Values Up in One Naples Community

Posted by Mark Weber on Jun 22, 2010 in Naples Homes Blog | 13 comments

Amidst the continued foreclosure and short sale epidemic in Southwest Florida real estate, there is a bright light of hope and optimism shining from latitude 26.196739, longitude -81.747175. In case your trusty GPS is not within reach, this is the entrance to Marbella Lakes in Naples, Florida.

This new home community of 490 single-family and carriage homes has been selling at a brisk pace since opening in February of last year. According to Ryan Johnston, Naples Realtor & GL Homes Sales Associate, “To date we have sold 225 homes, had 140 closings and more people are moving in every day.” Although that is not the frantic pace set in years past by would be investors who slept in line outside the sales trailer the night before the “Grand Opening” just to get a chance to buy something, it is still very impressive.

According to Mr. Johnston, “current owners who purchased single-family homes from us (Marbella Lakes) when we opened last year have equity of over $20,000 in many cases depending on the lot they purchased. That’s about a 6% to 10% increase in value in a little over a year.” Not too shabby during a time when other home values have plummeted twice that much.

As a Realtor and Broker in Naples for over eighteen years, I see even further increases in value on the horizon. Once the rest of the market begins to increase, Marbella Lakes owners should see their home values increase exponentially. With zero foreclosures/short sales and lots of increasing comparable sales, this is a no-brainer for someone who wants the security of a home that is steadily rising in value. Even if you don’t care to buy new, why would you buy a short sale or foreclosure elsewhere when the house next door could end up selling for less than you bought for six months from now. At Marbella Lakes this is not an issue.

The success of Marbella Lakes in a difficult real estate market and economic recession can be attributed to several factors: