NEW YORK (AP) – Sept. 30, 2010 – JPMorgan Chase has temporarily stopped foreclosing on more than 50,000 homes so it can review documents that might contain errors.
JPMorgan’s move Wednesday makes it the second major company to take such action this month, underscoring a growing legal problem. The issue could stall an already overloaded foreclosure process. Read the rest of the article at http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=248150.
This is an interesting article on the state of the legal process when it comes to foreclosures.
I would not be surprised if we see more banks temporarily stop foreclosures as the banks review their procedures.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Grateful for Sarasota's Pristine Beaches!!!!
As someone who loves the beach and loves to be in the water, I wondered about the impact that the Deepwater Horizon disaster might have on our pristine coast. I thought about that long and hard when I entered the Gulf of Mexico this morning for my morning swim (2,500 yards) along the shoreline. I have been in the same blue green water at least 3-4 times a week since I returned in early August. Each time I enter the water, I look out on the horizon to see if any tar balls have made their way to the magnificent beaches that surround Sarasota. I look in the water to see if there is a hidden disaster that lurks beneath our waters To my surprise, I have seen none. Zero. Not one tar ball, or anything that resembles oil has come near Siesta Key Beach, Longboat Key or Casey Key, and I do not think any will at this point.
I say this because some people still seem skeptical about buying Sarasota real estate. Potential home buyers remain unsure about the effects the oil might have on our stunning beaches, fishing, and home values. I know, first hand, that potential buyers feared housing prices would come down even more once the oil hit the beaches in early August.
Here is the other side of that equation. I believe that there are others out there that see the oil spill as an opportunity to buy a great Sarasota home situated on, or near a beautiful beach, at a bargain price. Those people see the value, and are confident that they will be able to enjoy all that the Sarasota beaches have to offer in Sarasota.
If people are worried that the rental market has been adversly affected, I would suggest taking a look at the bookings for this coming season. Everyone I have talked to, in the business, is telling me that bookings are very strong for the upcoming season. I have had a hard time finding suitable rentals for customers planning to visit. There are few accommodations available for rent on Siesta Key or Longboat Key.
As the oil threat fades, I am certain we will experience a healthy season of visitors and potential home buyers. With housing prices where they are (rock bottom), interest rates still hovering near historic lows, and the rebound of the euro, Sarasota, Florida is still an extremely attractive place to own real estate. It won't last long before we start to see prices rebound.
The beach is OPEN and absolutely pristine! The fish are still biting! The water is still beautiful! Lots of walkers are on the sandy beaches and I will be swimming and enjoying all that our beaches have to offer around sunrise tomorrow. Make some plans to visit and see how special Sarasota really is. You won't be disappointed. View our live BEACH CAM
I say this because some people still seem skeptical about buying Sarasota real estate. Potential home buyers remain unsure about the effects the oil might have on our stunning beaches, fishing, and home values. I know, first hand, that potential buyers feared housing prices would come down even more once the oil hit the beaches in early August.
Here is the other side of that equation. I believe that there are others out there that see the oil spill as an opportunity to buy a great Sarasota home situated on, or near a beautiful beach, at a bargain price. Those people see the value, and are confident that they will be able to enjoy all that the Sarasota beaches have to offer in Sarasota.
If people are worried that the rental market has been adversly affected, I would suggest taking a look at the bookings for this coming season. Everyone I have talked to, in the business, is telling me that bookings are very strong for the upcoming season. I have had a hard time finding suitable rentals for customers planning to visit. There are few accommodations available for rent on Siesta Key or Longboat Key.
As the oil threat fades, I am certain we will experience a healthy season of visitors and potential home buyers. With housing prices where they are (rock bottom), interest rates still hovering near historic lows, and the rebound of the euro, Sarasota, Florida is still an extremely attractive place to own real estate. It won't last long before we start to see prices rebound.
The beach is OPEN and absolutely pristine! The fish are still biting! The water is still beautiful! Lots of walkers are on the sandy beaches and I will be swimming and enjoying all that our beaches have to offer around sunrise tomorrow. Make some plans to visit and see how special Sarasota really is. You won't be disappointed. View our live BEACH CAM
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sarasota Waterfront Dining Experiences
Waterfront dining in Sarsota can be a great experience. There are many great restaurants on the water, but only a handful can be reached by both land and water. If you like boating, here are my picks for dining by water travel.
In today's blog, I will be taking you to five restaurants that I believe offer a great dining exerience. Not only are the views great, but the food is super. I start with the Drydock restaurant on the south end of Longboat Key and work my way south to Blackburn Point Road.
Our first stop is the Drydock Waterfront Grill (http://www.drydockwaterfrontgrill.com/) on the south end of Longboat Key. Heading east through New Pass, head left and follow the markers past Duck Point Preserve. The restaurant is about 1/2 north on the left. You can pull up to the grill and dine outside or head upstairs for a great meal. Prices are reasonable and the food is good. Their grouper is super!!!
The Old Salty Dog (www.theoldsaltyddog.com/cityisland ) is on the south side of New Pass and is very easy to get to by boat. You can pull right up to the dock, jump off, and have a cold beer and grouper sandwich, at the bar, in about 30 minutes. Fun place to have good seafood!!! I enjoy going there at sunset as the views are beautiful.
If you like to be downtown, Marina Jacks (http://www.marinajacks.com/) offers both causal and formal dining. What I like about the causal dining is there is always great music, and a place to dance, after you have had a bite to eat. The food is good and the service is super. The upstairs exerience offers stunning views of Sarasota Bay and even better sunset views. I love the food!
Traveling south towards Siesta Key offers lots of opportunites to see wildlife (I saw six manatee and several dolphin last week). As you make your way toward marker 48, you can enjoy two different kinds of dining experiences. The first is Turtle Restaurant (http://www.turtlesrestaurant.com/). It is a fun and relaxing atmosphere. Food is good and the service is fine. What I like is that you can walk across the street and take a stroll on Turle Beach so that you can take in the sunset, if you like. The other restaurant, Ophelias, is about 400 yards south of Turtle's. Ophelias, in business for over 22 years, is a wonderful dining experience. The food is superb and the service is excellent. It is a great place for a romantic dinner. There is outdoor waterfront dining and very nice indoor accommodations. You won't be disappointed. See their site at http://www.opheliasonthebay.net/.
Looking for a funky, fun restaurant? Look no further than Casey Key Fish House (http://www.caseykeyfishhouse.com/) located just south of the Blackburn Point swing bridge. The bridge is one of the few swing bridges left in all of Florida. It is quite a boat ride from the downtown Sarasota area, but it will be worth it. They serve both lunch and dinner and you will always find something there that you will like. Their grouper is always superb!! Food is great and the prices are spot on.
I hope you can make it to one of these spots the next time you are out on the water.
In today's blog, I will be taking you to five restaurants that I believe offer a great dining exerience. Not only are the views great, but the food is super. I start with the Drydock restaurant on the south end of Longboat Key and work my way south to Blackburn Point Road.
Our first stop is the Drydock Waterfront Grill (http://www.drydockwaterfrontgrill.com/) on the south end of Longboat Key. Heading east through New Pass, head left and follow the markers past Duck Point Preserve. The restaurant is about 1/2 north on the left. You can pull up to the grill and dine outside or head upstairs for a great meal. Prices are reasonable and the food is good. Their grouper is super!!!
The Old Salty Dog (www.theoldsaltyddog.com/cityisland ) is on the south side of New Pass and is very easy to get to by boat. You can pull right up to the dock, jump off, and have a cold beer and grouper sandwich, at the bar, in about 30 minutes. Fun place to have good seafood!!! I enjoy going there at sunset as the views are beautiful.
If you like to be downtown, Marina Jacks (http://www.marinajacks.com/) offers both causal and formal dining. What I like about the causal dining is there is always great music, and a place to dance, after you have had a bite to eat. The food is good and the service is super. The upstairs exerience offers stunning views of Sarasota Bay and even better sunset views. I love the food!
Traveling south towards Siesta Key offers lots of opportunites to see wildlife (I saw six manatee and several dolphin last week). As you make your way toward marker 48, you can enjoy two different kinds of dining experiences. The first is Turtle Restaurant (http://www.turtlesrestaurant.com/). It is a fun and relaxing atmosphere. Food is good and the service is fine. What I like is that you can walk across the street and take a stroll on Turle Beach so that you can take in the sunset, if you like. The other restaurant, Ophelias, is about 400 yards south of Turtle's. Ophelias, in business for over 22 years, is a wonderful dining experience. The food is superb and the service is excellent. It is a great place for a romantic dinner. There is outdoor waterfront dining and very nice indoor accommodations. You won't be disappointed. See their site at http://www.opheliasonthebay.net/.
Looking for a funky, fun restaurant? Look no further than Casey Key Fish House (http://www.caseykeyfishhouse.com/) located just south of the Blackburn Point swing bridge. The bridge is one of the few swing bridges left in all of Florida. It is quite a boat ride from the downtown Sarasota area, but it will be worth it. They serve both lunch and dinner and you will always find something there that you will like. Their grouper is always superb!! Food is great and the prices are spot on.
I hope you can make it to one of these spots the next time you are out on the water.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Sarasota Lifestyles and Waterfront Interests
As a resident of Sarasota for over 20 years (except for a small detour to Dallas, TX), I have come to admire and respect all that Sarasota has to offer. My family returned from Dallas in 2004 and arrived just in time to experience the wrath of Hurricane Charley, and three more that followed on its heals. But not to be deterred by a little rain and wind, we settled in and promised ourselves that we would never leave again, if at all possible. I told my wife that I would be a garbage man if needed so that we could stay and reap the benefits of all that Sarasota has to offer.
With the rise and fall of the Sarasota real estate market, in the middle part of this century, I think we have come full circle. Recently, there have been several articles about where Sarasota ranks in terms of places to live in the U.S. I am sure there is lots of data that they take into account when determining the rankings (schools, arts, community, jobs, quality of life, etc.), but one of the top criteria in the recent report was home value. Sarasota ranked #2 recently of places to go where you could get a great deal on a home or condo. Heck, even if we were in the TOP 10, we would still be an attractive to live!!!!
It is with that ranking in mind, I want to set out over the next near to write articles about real estate on the waterways around Bird Key, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and Casey Key, boating opportunities, places where you can eat dinner on the water and arrive by boat or car. I will review marina's and storage facilities. Since fishing is such a big part of Sarasota life, I will make recommendations regarding some of the best fishing guides from Sarasota to Boca Grande. Sites to see will also be high on my list. From Eggmont to Caya Costa, there are many interesting landmarks and places of interest that should be visited if you have access to the water. With my dear friend and writer, Rebecca Robinson, we will indulge your senses with articles about wines and meals that can be eaten on your boat, on the beach, or on your dock!!! Check Back Often for great information on living Sarasota Style.
My newsletter will also be up and running in short order. You will be able to join at http://www.discoversarasotarealestate.com/ and receive a newsletter once-a-month. It should be fun and interesting!!!! See ya soon!
With the rise and fall of the Sarasota real estate market, in the middle part of this century, I think we have come full circle. Recently, there have been several articles about where Sarasota ranks in terms of places to live in the U.S. I am sure there is lots of data that they take into account when determining the rankings (schools, arts, community, jobs, quality of life, etc.), but one of the top criteria in the recent report was home value. Sarasota ranked #2 recently of places to go where you could get a great deal on a home or condo. Heck, even if we were in the TOP 10, we would still be an attractive to live!!!!
It is with that ranking in mind, I want to set out over the next near to write articles about real estate on the waterways around Bird Key, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and Casey Key, boating opportunities, places where you can eat dinner on the water and arrive by boat or car. I will review marina's and storage facilities. Since fishing is such a big part of Sarasota life, I will make recommendations regarding some of the best fishing guides from Sarasota to Boca Grande. Sites to see will also be high on my list. From Eggmont to Caya Costa, there are many interesting landmarks and places of interest that should be visited if you have access to the water. With my dear friend and writer, Rebecca Robinson, we will indulge your senses with articles about wines and meals that can be eaten on your boat, on the beach, or on your dock!!! Check Back Often for great information on living Sarasota Style.
My newsletter will also be up and running in short order. You will be able to join at http://www.discoversarasotarealestate.com/ and receive a newsletter once-a-month. It should be fun and interesting!!!! See ya soon!
Housing starts up 10.5% nationally
RISMEDIA, September 23, 2010—(MCT)—New housing starts surged 10.5% in August 2010 to the highest level since spring, but the activity was driven by a sharp spike in apartment construction, government data showed. Housing starts rose in August to an annualized rate of 598,000, compared with a revised 0.4% increase in July, the Commerce Department reported. Read the entire article at http://rismedia.com/2010-09-22/housing-starts-jump-10-5-percent-in-august-2010/.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Lastest Sarasota Real Estate Stats
Check out the lastest Sarasota Real Estate Stats and Market Trends
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=app_263402840772&id=1189091481&ref=mf
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=app_263402840772&id=1189091481&ref=mf
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Sarasota's Newest Real Estate Resource on the Web
I am excited to launch a new website location http://www.discoversarasotarealestate.com/ where you can find an abundance of information regarding the Sarasota lifestyle, including valuable resources for relocation, Sarasota beaches, boating and more.
You can also follow me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1189091481
You can also follow me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1189091481
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